Spectacular Arms Deals and Shared Interests
In just a matter of weeks, New Delhi has signed a series of major military agreements with Tel Aviv: assault rifles worth $3.3 billion, aerial refueling aircraft close to $900 million, and another $4 billion’s worth of rockets and missiles. Not your typical shopping spree, unless your shopping list has a serious hardware section.
This burst of purchases meets two key priorities for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: boosting India’s military power in the face of Pakistan, and reinforcing the Make in India policy. This policy insists that foreign partners manufacture directly on Indian soil—a demand Israel has embraced enthusiastically, setting up subsidiaries and headquarters inside India with no hesitation.
Mutual Benefits in a Tense Climate
This convergence pays off for both capitals. Israel, diplomatically isolated since the Gaza conflict, has found in India a solid, discreet, and politically aligned client. Today, New Delhi accounts for about a third of Israel’s arms exports, giving Tel Aviv vital funding for its high-tech defense research programs.
But it doesn’t stop at defense. The Indo-Israeli alliance is rapidly spreading into other sectors: technology, cybersecurity, and agriculture. In 2024, bilateral trade surpassed $6.5 billion—four times what it was a decade ago.
Last month, the two governments signed a historic bilateral agreement aiming to triple this volume by 2030. The goal? Strengthen the complementarity between India, an agricultural giant, and Israel, a specialist in cutting-edge technology and water management.
- For India, with 1.4 billion people to feed, food security is crucial. Israel delivers the precision modernization and irrigation solutions needed to deliver on that promise.
- On many issues, the two economies are almost made to measure for each other’s strengths and needs.
Defying Global Trends
While many countries—especially in Europe—have suspended some cooperation agreements with Israel since the Gaza conflict, India is heading the other way and tightening ties. Narendra Modi has rolled out the red carpet for Benjamin Netanyahu multiple times, undeterred by accusations of war crimes against the Israeli government. This choice may ruffle feathers in the West, but it absolutely fits New Delhi’s assertive, independent diplomatic approach.
Beyond Economics: A New Strategic Vision
This new closeness is no longer limited just to economics. India, which was historically aligned with the Palestinian camp under Prime Minister Nehru, now under Modi’s leadership, gives clear support to Israel—even on the highly sensitive Palestinian issue.
The two nations also share a striking model: a state with a religious majority facing a sizable Muslim minority. For India’s Hindu nationalist movement, Israel’s hardline strategy is something of a blueprint. On social media, the hashtag #HindusWithIsrael paints a vivid picture of this ideological convergence.
“Beyond contracts, a shared worldview is emerging. A discreet but potentially lasting partnership between two powers keen to redefine international balances in their own way.”
