India, Israel Elevate Ties to Special Strategic Partnership
16 Agreements Signed Across AI, Defence, Trade, Cyber and Agriculture
- Bilateral ties upgraded to “Special Strategic Partnership”
- 16 MoUs signed in AI, cybersecurity, fintech, agriculture and defence
- FTA talks to be expedited; UPI–Israel linkage under exploration
- Leaders reaffirm zero tolerance policy against terrorism
GG News Bureau
Jerusalem, 26th Feb: India and Israel on Thursday elevated their bilateral ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation & Prosperity” following delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The decision was announced in a joint statement issued after the Prime Minister’s State Visit to Israel from February 25–26. Both leaders noted the significant progress made since their landmark visits in 2017 and 2018 and agreed to deepen cooperation across strategic sectors.
Sixteen agreements were signed covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, education, agriculture, fisheries, fintech, geophysical exploration, maritime heritage, arbitration and labour mobility. An MoU on cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and a Letter of Intent for establishing an Indo-Israel Cyber Centre of Excellence were among the key outcomes.
The leaders welcomed the progress in Free Trade Agreement negotiations and reiterated their commitment to expedite talks for early conclusion. They also agreed to explore linking India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Israel’s payment system to enhance cross-border transactions.
In defence, both sides reviewed the roadmap under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2025 and agreed to expand joint development, production and technology transfer. Cooperation in space between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Israel Space Agency will also be strengthened.
The two leaders strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and reiterated their shared resolve to combat cross-border terror. They discussed regional developments and reaffirmed commitment to peace and stability in West Asia.
On agriculture and water management, both sides agreed to expand Centres of Excellence in India and operationalise the India–Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture to enhance productivity and sustainability.
The leaders also reaffirmed commitment to advancing multilateral initiatives such as the I2U2 Group and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor to promote regional connectivity and economic growth.
