Overview
- New Delhi and Jerusalem announced an upgrade to a Special Strategic Partnership during a joint press briefing following talks between Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Officials said 27 MoUs were signed across sectors including advanced manufacturing, AI, cultural exchange and maritime heritage, alongside an agreement enabling use of India’s UPI payments in Israel.
- Both sides said they will move to finalise a Free Trade Agreement and launched a Critical and Emerging Technology Partnership covering areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
- A joint statement condemned terrorism in all forms, referenced attacks in Israel and India, and noted coordination on initiatives such as IMEC and I2U2, with leaders also welcoming a U.S. plan to end the Gaza conflict.
- Defense cooperation remained a priority with discussions on technology transfer and local production for air-defense systems, including potential elements from Iron Dome and Israel’s laser-based Iron Beam, described as a developing area.