PM Modi & Netanyahu Reaffirm Shared Vision For India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday to advance bilateral engagement across strategic sectors.

The leaders conducted comprehensive discussions covering technology and innovation, Artificial Intelligence, critical minerals, defence, security, trade, economic cooperation, labour mobility, education, blue economy, agriculture and healthcare.

Both sides agreed to elevate relations to an ‘India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity’, signalling a deeper institutional alignment.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval attended the meeting alongside senior officials.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two governments decided to raise the Joint Committee on Science and Technology to ministerial rank. They will launch a joint initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies under the leadership of their National Security Advisors.

The sides also agreed to initiate a structured financial dialogue, introduce a technology gateway framework and establish 20 joint agricultural research fellowships.

The partners resolved to enhance funding under Joint Research Calls. They will expand the quota for Indian workers by up to 50,000 over five years.

They also agreed to convene an India-Israel Academic Cooperation Forum and create a Parliamentary Friendship Group.

MEA Confirms 27 Outcomes

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on X that both Prime Ministers reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and addressed regional and global matters. He confirmed the finalisation of outcomes spanning science, trade, finance, AI, agriculture, labour mobility, education and culture.

The two countries exchanged multiple agreements. These include cooperation in geophysical exploration, development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal, a Cultural Exchange Programme for 2026-2029, collaboration between NPCI International and MASAV Israel on UPI implementation, and agricultural innovation between ICAR and MASHAV.

Additional instruments covered fisheries, financial services regulation, labour mobility protocols across sectors, AI-enabled education, commercial arbitration cooperation, university partnerships, cyber excellence and artificial intelligence collaboration.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi visited the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre.

Accompanied by PM Netanyahu and Chairman Dani Dayan, he paid tribute to Holocaust victims and toured the memorial complex.

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