PM Narendra Modi To Visit Israel; Focus On Defence, Trade And Innovation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Israel on Wednesday for his second visit to the country, aiming to reinforce cooperation in defence and security, trade and economic relations, and innovation.

During the visit, he will likely hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and call on President Isaac Herzog.

The Ministry of External Affairs announced the visit on Tuesday, highlighting that the two leaders will review progress under the India-Israel Strategic Partnership and explore further collaboration across key sectors.

Discussions are likely to focus on science and technology, innovation, defence and security, agriculture, water management, trade and economy, and people-to-people exchanges.

Coinciding with the Prime Minister’s visit, the first round of negotiations for the proposed India-Israel Free Trade Agreement began in New Delhi and will continue until February 26, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Officials said the timing of the talks injects fresh momentum into efforts to deepen economic engagement between the two nations.

The Terms of Reference for the agreement were signed in November 2025, establishing a structured framework for expanding trade and economic cooperation.

The proposed FTA will likely provide greater predictability for businesses, including micro, small and medium enterprises, while unlocking new sectoral opportunities.

India and Israel share complementary capabilities in innovation-driven sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, high-tech manufacturing, agriculture and services.

The commerce ministry believes the agreement could significantly enhance bilateral trade by harnessing these synergies.

India’s Chief Negotiator Ajay Bhadoo and Israel’s Chief Negotiator Yifat Alon Perel underlined the importance of crafting a balanced, forward-looking pact that strengthens supply chains, promotes cooperation and opens new markets for both countries.