If India were to define a constructive role in the Gaza peace process, what strategic and normative considerations should guide its approach?

Normative framework: India has consistently supported a two-state solution and peaceful dialogue. Participation in reconstruction or stabilisation efforts must align with international law and humanitarian principles. Strategic considerations: Protecting energy security amid Iran–U.S. tensions.Ensuring safety of the Indian diaspora in Gulf countries.Maintaining balanced ties with both Israel and Arab states. Practical engagement: India could contribute through capacity-building, infrastructure reconstruction, or technological support rather than direct military involvement. Conclusion: By combining principled diplomacy with pragmatic interests, India can position itself as a credible, non-aligned stabilising force in West Asia while safeguarding its long-term strategic objectives.

Prime Minister Modi's Strategic Visit to Israel: An Overview

Q: What does India’s policy of strategic de-hyphenation in West Asia mean, and how is it reflected in the Prime Minister’s standalone visit to Israel?

Conceptual understanding: Strategic de-hyphenation refers to India’s decision to treat its bilateral relations with Israel and Palestine independently, rather than linking engagement with one to symbolic balancing with the other. Historically, India’s West Asia policy was cautious, often pairing high-level visits to Israel with outreach to the Palestinian Authority. The standalone visit signals confidence in pursuing issue-based diplomacy rooted in national interest rather than ideological positioning. Policy evolution: Since 2017, India has institutionalised strong defence, agriculture, and technology ties with Israel, while simultaneously deepening engagement with Gulf countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan. Hosting the India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and expanding energy and diaspora ties illustrate this parallel outreach. Strategic implication: De-hyphenation enhances India’s credibility as an autonomous actor capable of maintaining robust ties across rival camps. It reflects India’s broader foreign policy doctrine of multi-alignment, where partnerships are guided by pragmatic interests rather than bloc politics.

Q: Why is defence cooperation the cornerstone of the India–Israel relationship, and what are its implications for India’s security architecture?

Security convergence: Both India and Israel face cross-border terrorism and hostile security environments. According to SIPRI, India accounted for around 34% of Israel’s arms exports (2020–2024), highlighting the depth of defence ties. Systems such as UAVs, radar platforms, and missile defence technologies have significantly enhanced India’s operational capabilities. Shift toward co-development: The partnership has evolved from a buyer-seller relationship to joint research and production. The Barak-8 missile defence system and potential collaboration on the Iron Beam laser system under Mission ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ demonstrate this transition. Lessons from Operation Sindoor (2025) underscored the need for a robust anti-drone and missile shield. Strategic implication: Such cooperation strengthens India’s indigenous defence ecosystem under Atmanirbhar Bharat while enhancing deterrence. However, India must calibrate this engagement to avoid perceptions of alignment in volatile regional rivalries.

Q: How can the India–Israel partnership expand beyond defence into innovation, agriculture, and high technology?

Agricultural transformation: Israel’s expertise in precision irrigation and arid-zone farming has resulted in over 35 Centres of Excellence in India focusing on high-density fruit and vegetable production. These initiatives have improved productivity in water-scarce regions. Technology and AI collaboration: Bilateral trade, valued at $3.75 billion, is expanding into electronics, medical devices, and communication technologies. With AI emerging as a transformative sector, joint research initiatives and startup collaborations can combine Israeli innovation with India’s scale and talent pool. Future trajectory: Agreements on investment protection and proposed FTA negotiations provide a framework for deeper economic integration. Collaboration in water management (via MASHAV agreements) and digital innovation reflects a broad-based partnership that extends beyond traditional security ties.

Q: Critically examine the strategic implications of Israel’s proposed ‘hexagon of alliances’ and India’s likely response.

Proposal context: Israel’s proposal envisions an alliance network including India and several regional actors to counter perceived radical axes. This reflects bloc-based security thinking shaped by regional polarisation involving Iran and other actors. Opportunities: Participation could enhance intelligence-sharing, maritime security cooperation, and connectivity initiatives like IMEC. It may also strengthen India’s defence-industrial collaboration. Risks: India’s energy security depends significantly on Gulf countries, and millions of Indians reside in the region. Aligning overtly with one axis could strain ties with Iran or Arab partners. Assessment: India is likely to favour flexible, issue-based cooperation rather than formal alliance commitments, preserving its doctrine of strategic autonomy while engaging constructively where interests converge.

Q: How does the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) reflect the geoeconomic dimension of India–Israel relations?

Connectivity vision: IMEC, announced during the 2023 G-20 Summit, seeks to connect India to Europe via the Middle East through rail and maritime networks. Israel’s geographic position makes it a pivotal transit node. Geoeconomic rationale: With the Suez Canal vulnerable to disruption amid regional tensions, IMEC offers a secure alternative route. Recent trade deals with the EU, UAE, and Oman increase the importance of resilient logistics corridors. Strategic example: IMEC illustrates how economic connectivity can reinforce diplomatic and security partnerships. However, sustained peace in Gaza and regional stability remain prerequisites for its full realisation.

Understanding the implications of PM Modi's Israel visit on security, economy, and regional dynamics.

Dhinesh Balasubramanian

•February 25, 2026•6 mins read

PM Modi’s Israel visit amid West Asia tensions underscores deepening India-Israel strategic, defence and economic partnership.

Not Started

1. West Asian Security Volatility and Strategic Context

West Asia is witnessing heightened instability, marked by a major U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf and rising tensions involving Iran. Although a ceasefire has held in Gaza since October 2025, prospects for durable peace remain uncertain.

Emerging geopolitical fault lines are drawing regional actors such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia into competing alignments. This evolving security architecture has implications for energy flows, maritime routes, and regional alliances.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February 25–26, 2026 visit to Israel—his second after the historic July 2017 visit—takes place in this fragile environment. Notably, the visit is standalone, without engagement with Palestinian leadership, reflecting India’s policy of “de-hyphenating” its Israel and Palestine engagements.

India’s West Asia engagement is shaped by energy security, diaspora interests, and strategic partnerships. In a volatile region, calibrated diplomacy is essential to prevent disruptions to trade, energy supplies, and geopolitical positioning.

2. Defence and Security Convergence

India and Israel share security concerns, including cross-border terrorism and hostile neighbourhood dynamics. Over time, defence cooperation has evolved from a buyer-seller relationship to joint development and technology collaboration.

According to SIPRI, India accounted for 34% of Israel’s total arms exports (2020–2024), making it Israel’s largest defence customer during this period. Cooperation spans unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missile systems, radar platforms, and surveillance technologies.

The jointly developed Barak-8 air and missile defence system represents a flagship example of co-production. The India-Israel Vision on Defence Cooperation (June 2022) and the November 2025 agreement on advanced systems further institutionalised defence-industrial collaboration.

Key Defence Elements:

India’s share in Israeli arms exports (2020–24): 34%
Proposed focus: Co-production of Iron Beam (100kW laser system)
Reported private-sector deal: Approx. $1.9 million for surveillance systems

India’s experience in Operation Sindoor (May 2025) reportedly underscored the need for strengthened air and anti-drone defence under Mission ‘Sudarshan Chakra’.

Strategic autonomy is strengthened through technology co-development rather than mere imports. However, overdependence on any single supplier must be balanced with diversified defence partnerships.

3. Science, Technology and Innovation Linkages

Beyond defence, Israel has been a key partner in agriculture, water management, and innovation ecosystems. Over 35 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) operate in India for high-density production of horticultural crops and beekeeping.

Water cooperation has expanded through MASHAV agreements with Haryana (June 2022) and Rajasthan (December 2024) for integrated water resource management and capacity building.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a prospective frontier for bilateral cooperation. Mr. Modi’s planned visit to a Jerusalem innovation centre signals focus on technology-driven growth.

Technology partnerships enhance productivity in agriculture and water-stressed regions. Ignoring innovation collaboration could limit India’s progress in climate resilience and agri-modernisation.

4. Trade, Investment and Economic Integration

India is Israel’s second-largest trading partner in Asia, with bilateral trade reaching $3.75 billion in FY2024–25. Trade remains dominated by diamonds, petroleum and chemicals but is diversifying into electronics, medical equipment, and high-tech sectors.

In September 2025, both sides signed a Bilateral Investment Agreement, followed by Terms of Reference for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in November 2025. Progress on the FTA may gain momentum during the visit.

Israel is reportedly interested in:

Participation of Indian infrastructure firms in roads and ports
“Human mobility” arrangements for skilled Indian professionals

Economic diversification strengthens strategic ties beyond security cooperation. A successful FTA could institutionalise long-term economic interdependence.

5. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

Announced at the G-20 Summit (September 2023), IMEC aims to establish an intercontinental connectivity corridor linking India to Europe via West Asia.

The Gaza conflict temporarily stalled progress, but renewed trade agreements with the EU, Oman, and the UAE have revived interest. Vulnerabilities in the Suez Canal route due to regional instability increase the appeal of alternative corridors.

However, sustained peace in Gaza remains crucial for the corridor’s viability.

Connectivity initiatives like IMEC integrate economic and strategic objectives. Without regional stability, infrastructure corridors risk becoming geopolitically fragile.

6. Gaza Peace Process and India’s Diplomatic Space

At the Board of Peace Summit (February 19, 2026), attended by over 50 countries, some pledged $7 billion and others committed troops for an International Stabilisation Force. India participated as an observer.

India has not defined its formal role in the Gaza stabilisation process. Given its balanced ties with Israel and Gulf states, it may explore humanitarian, reconstruction, or diplomatic avenues.

India’s hosting of the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (January 2026) and recent visits to Jordan, Oman, and the UAE illustrate its effort to maintain equilibrium in regional diplomacy.

India’s credibility in West Asia rests on strategic balancing. Over-alignment with any bloc could undermine ties with energy partners and diaspora-hosting nations.

7. Regional Alignments and the “Hexagon” Proposal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed creating a “hexagon” of alliances including India, Arab nations, African nations, Mediterranean countries (Greece, Cyprus), and Asian partners against “radical axes.”

“We will create a ‘hexagon’ of alliances…” — Benjamin Netanyahu

India’s approach to West Asia has traditionally avoided bloc politics. Its foreign policy emphasises strategic autonomy and issue-based partnerships rather than formal alignments.

How India navigates such proposals will signal its broader geopolitical positioning.

Alignment politics may enhance deterrence but reduce diplomatic flexibility. India’s long-term interests lie in maintaining multi-vector engagement rather than entering rigid blocs.

8. Symbolism and Strategic Significance of the Visit

Mr. Modi’s address to the Knesset and engagement with Israel’s innovation ecosystem signal deep political trust. The visit is positioned as more than routine diplomacy, reflecting consolidation of a decade-long strategic partnership.

Simultaneously, the timing amid regional instability makes the visit geopolitically sensitive. It underscores India’s attempt to separate bilateral cooperation from broader regional fault lines.

Symbolism in diplomacy shapes perception as much as policy substance. Managing optics while safeguarding strategic interests is central to India’s West Asia engagement.

Conclusion

Prime Minister Modi’s 2026 visit to Israel occurs at a critical juncture marked by regional instability, evolving security architectures, and emerging connectivity initiatives. India–Israel ties now extend beyond defence to trade, technology, water management, and strategic infrastructure.

Going forward, India’s challenge lies in deepening its partnership with Israel while preserving its carefully balanced relationships across West Asia. Strategic autonomy, economic diversification, and regional stability will determine the long-term success of this engagement.

Quick Q&A

Everything you need to know

Conceptual understanding: Strategic de-hyphenation refers to India’s decision to treat its bilateral relations with Israel and Palestine independently, rather than linking engagement with one to symbolic balancing with the other. Historically, India’s West Asia policy was cautious, often pairing high-level visits to Israel with outreach to the Palestinian Authority. The standalone visit signals confidence in pursuing issue-based diplomacy rooted in national interest rather than ideological positioning.

Policy evolution: Since 2017, India has institutionalised strong defence, agriculture, and technology ties with Israel, while simultaneously deepening engagement with Gulf countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan. Hosting the India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and expanding energy and diaspora ties illustrate this parallel outreach.

Strategic implication: De-hyphenation enhances India’s credibility as an autonomous actor capable of maintaining robust ties across rival camps. It reflects India’s broader foreign policy doctrine of multi-alignment, where partnerships are guided by pragmatic interests rather than bloc politics.

Security convergence: Both India and Israel face cross-border terrorism and hostile security environments. According to SIPRI, India accounted for around 34% of Israel’s arms exports (2020–2024), highlighting the depth of defence ties. Systems such as UAVs, radar platforms, and missile defence technologies have significantly enhanced India’s operational capabilities.

Shift toward co-development: The partnership has evolved from a buyer-seller relationship to joint research and production. The Barak-8 missile defence system and potential collaboration on the Iron Beam laser system under Mission ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ demonstrate this transition. Lessons from Operation Sindoor (2025) underscored the need for a robust anti-drone and missile shield.

Strategic implication: Such cooperation strengthens India’s indigenous defence ecosystem under Atmanirbhar Bharat while enhancing deterrence. However, India must calibrate this engagement to avoid perceptions of alignment in volatile regional rivalries.

Agricultural transformation: Israel’s expertise in precision irrigation and arid-zone farming has resulted in over 35 Centres of Excellence in India focusing on high-density fruit and vegetable production. These initiatives have improved productivity in water-scarce regions.

Technology and AI collaboration: Bilateral trade, valued at $3.75 billion, is expanding into electronics, medical devices, and communication technologies. With AI emerging as a transformative sector, joint research initiatives and startup collaborations can combine Israeli innovation with India’s scale and talent pool.

Future trajectory: Agreements on investment protection and proposed FTA negotiations provide a framework for deeper economic integration. Collaboration in water management (via MASHAV agreements) and digital innovation reflects a broad-based partnership that extends beyond traditional security ties.

Proposal context: Israel’s proposal envisions an alliance network including India and several regional actors to counter perceived radical axes. This reflects bloc-based security thinking shaped by regional polarisation involving Iran and other actors.

Opportunities: Participation could enhance intelligence-sharing, maritime security cooperation, and connectivity initiatives like IMEC. It may also strengthen India’s defence-industrial collaboration.

Risks: India’s energy security depends significantly on Gulf countries, and millions of Indians reside in the region. Aligning overtly with one axis could strain ties with Iran or Arab partners.

Assessment: India is likely to favour flexible, issue-based cooperation rather than formal alliance commitments, preserving its doctrine of strategic autonomy while engaging constructively where interests converge.

Connectivity vision: IMEC, announced during the 2023 G-20 Summit, seeks to connect India to Europe via the Middle East through rail and maritime networks. Israel’s geographic position makes it a pivotal transit node.

Geoeconomic rationale: With the Suez Canal vulnerable to disruption amid regional tensions, IMEC offers a secure alternative route. Recent trade deals with the EU, UAE, and Oman increase the importance of resilient logistics corridors.

Strategic example: IMEC illustrates how economic connectivity can reinforce diplomatic and security partnerships. However, sustained peace in Gaza and regional stability remain prerequisites for its full realisation.

Normative framework: India has consistently supported a two-state solution and peaceful dialogue. Participation in reconstruction or stabilisation efforts must align with international law and humanitarian principles.

Strategic considerations:

Protecting energy security amid Iran–U.S. tensions.
Ensuring safety of the Indian diaspora in Gulf countries.
Maintaining balanced ties with both Israel and Arab states.

Practical engagement: India could contribute through capacity-building, infrastructure reconstruction, or technological support rather than direct military involvement.

Conclusion: By combining principled diplomacy with pragmatic interests, India can position itself as a credible, non-aligned stabilising force in West Asia while safeguarding its long-term strategic objectives.