BICOM

This afternoon, a historic event is taking place, with the first visit of an Indian prime minister to Israel. No mere photo opportunity or diplomatic flourish to formalise a relationship already in place, both parties are coming to the table with expansive and ambitious proposals to take the relationship to the next stage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, which follows 25 years of normalised Indo-Israeli relations, is seen as highly significant by Israeli officials. Israel’s Ambassador to New Delhi Daniel Carmon told reporters in India that the trip was of “unprecedented importance”, marking a shift from merely bilateral ties to a “changing paradigm and changed architecture where there is no zero sum game” and where “commitments and good relations with both sides can be maintained without contradiction”.

Upon his arrival, Modi will be greeted at Ben Gurion Airport by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an honour normally reserved for the likes of the US President. An Israeli Foreign Ministry statement said the trip will further upgrade the ever-growing partnership between the two countries and that during his visit, Modi will meet with both Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin, as well as hold other “high-level bilateral meetings” meant to “reflect the fabric of the Indo-Israeli relations”. Modi’s visit signifies nothing less than a recalibration of India’s stance on Israel and the relationship it wants, moving from a buyer/seller dynamic to a multifaceted and long-term friendship.

What will be discussed?

Defence

Historically, India’s relationship with Israel has centred on security and defence collaboration, with India today being Israel’s largest arms market. Moreover, Modi’s visit follows massive recently agreed deals between Israeli and Indian defence companies.

State-owned Israel aerospace Industries (IAI) signed an agreement recently to build missiles with an Indian company, launch a collaborative project on drones and is seeking a partner for cooperation on electronic warfare and communication systems. In previous meetings in New York, Netanyahu has raised the prospects of greater collaboration on cyber-defence; this will likely form a key aspect of any further talks.

Trade

Increasing bilateral trade is a priority for Israel, and ahead of the visit both countries have prepared an economic roadmap to set out proposals for greater economic ties. The Israeli cabinet has approved a document that sets aside a budget of $79.6m to achieve this, a larger fund than Israel has approved for Africa, China and Latin America combined. To help overcome barriers to trade and boost Israeli exports to India by 25 per cent in the next four years, the Israeli government has proposed liberalising the aviation sector, granting longer-term visas and using advisors to assist Israeli businesses navigate Indian regulations.

Technology

India has the third largest economy in the world and currently enjoys a growth rate that outpaces China. It remains however a relatively poor country in need of investment and technology geared towards development. Both India and Israel are interested in what Prime Minister Netanyahu has called, the “diplomacy of technology.” In January, Netanyahu said: “This is what makes us a significant player in the international arena, despite our size.”

At the forefront of discussions between Netanyahu and Modi will reportedly be a plan to utilise Israeli water and agricultural technology in India. Haaretz reports that Eli Groner, the Director General of the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, will lead a team to advance these initiatives by developing a plan to link Israeli expertise with specific Indian needs in water conservation, pollution, recycling water and boosting agricultural output. There are also reports of a plan to expand the 26 agriculture expertise centres that Israel has set up in 15 Indian states.

Israel’s government is also heavily investing in a joint research and development fund with India and has approved an agreement on digital-health initiatives and funding for closer academic cooperation and collaboration between the two countries’ space agencies.

India goes all in

Modi’s trip will formalise what has been obvious for years, but nevertheless represents a significant step for a country that has been cautious about parading its relationship with Israel.

It also suggests that Modi may be delinking India’s relationship with Israel from the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although Indian-Palestinian relations are strong, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas did spend three days in New Delhi last month meeting with Modi, President Pranab and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Modi will not visit Ramallah as part of his visit.

The signs from Modi indicate he is ready to link the defence and internal development of India to Israel in the long-term, and make this partnership more intimate and more public. This indicates a far greater willingness to weather the storm such a relationship may cause in the region.

Political analysts suggest that Modi may be around a while, with experts predicting he will be re-elected in 2019, which would be the first time in decades that an Indian government has been elected for two terms. The prospects of a stable and long-term relationship with the leader of the third largest Muslim population in the world is exciting for Israel; and the next few days will prove historic no matter the outcome.

Jack May is Communications and Research Intern at BICOM.