Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to undertake a two-day visit to Israel from February 25 to 26, in what is expected to be another significant step in strengthening India’s strategic engagement with the West Asian nation. According to official sources, the final programme is being worked out, with the visit likely to feature high-level discussions focused on expanding cooperation in key sectors. Modi is also expected to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, during the trip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed the anticipated visit and described India–Israel relations as strong and steadily growing. He highlighted the importance both countries attach to their partnership and indicated that a wide range of cooperative initiatives would be discussed when the Indian prime minister arrives. The remarks underscore the increasing strategic comfort between New Delhi and Tel Aviv.
The upcoming visit will mark Modi’s second trip to Israel, following his historic 2017 visit — the first ever by an Indian prime minister. That landmark tour elevated bilateral ties to a new level and opened the door for deeper collaboration in areas such as defence, agriculture, water management, innovation and homeland security. Since then, India–Israel ties have continued to gain momentum through regular diplomatic engagement.
Over the past year, several senior Israeli ministers, including Haim Katz, Nir Barkat, Avi Dichter and Bezalel Smotrich, have visited India to advance economic and strategic cooperation. A major focus of these engagements has been progress toward the proposed India–Israel Free Trade Agreement. During Smotrich’s visit, the two sides signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty, signalling growing economic confidence. Further movement on the proposed FTA was recorded during Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to Israel in November, when both sides agreed on the Terms of Reference for negotiations.
India has also maintained active diplomatic outreach. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Israel in December and held talks with Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and other senior leaders. The discussions reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and explored opportunities in emerging technology sectors.
Defence and technology collaboration remain central pillars of the India–Israel relationship. In November, both countries signed an agreement to deepen cooperation in defence manufacturing, industry and advanced technology. The pact includes provisions for sharing advanced systems and supporting joint development and production — areas that align closely with India’s push for greater self-reliance in defence.
The India–Israel Joint Working Group on defence recently held its annual meeting in Tel Aviv, where officials reviewed progress in joint planning, military training, defence industrial partnerships, research and development, artificial intelligence and cyber security. These areas are expected to feature prominently in discussions during Modi’s visit.
Netanyahu announced the upcoming visit while addressing the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations, reiterating that India and Israel are strong strategic partners with expanding cooperation. Despite the short duration, the visit is expected to carry considerable diplomatic significance and further consolidate the growing partnership.
For India, the trip signals continued emphasis on strengthening ties with key strategic partners in West Asia, particularly in defence technology, innovation and trade. As bilateral engagement continues to expand, Modi’s visit is widely seen as an important step in advancing India’s long-term strategic and economic interests with Israel.
