Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, August 8, following a phone call between the two leaders reviewing progress on the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership, with Netanyahu pledging to further deepen economic and security ties between the two countries.
"Support for Israel Immense" — A Recurring Theme
Netanyahu has repeatedly singled out India as one of Israel's strongest sources of international support. Speaking at a conference earlier this year, he described India as occupying a special place in Israel's global engagement strategy, noting that while Israel faces efforts at delegitimization in many countries, India stands out as a notable exception — with public goodwill toward Israel among Indians running remarkably strong. That same sentiment carried through Friday's exchange, with Netanyahu writing on X: "Thank you, my friend, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. Together we continue to strengthen the bond between Israel and India," responding to a post from Modi written in Hebrew.
What the Two Leaders Discussed
During Thursday evening's call, Modi and Netanyahu reviewed progress across multiple dimensions of the bilateral relationship and discussed the current situation in West Asia. Modi wrote on X that the two leaders "reviewed progress on various aspects of the India–Israel Special Strategic Partnership which continues to grow from strength to strength." Both leaders recalled the historic foundations of the modern relationship — Modi's 2017 visit to Israel and Netanyahu's 2018 visit to India — which laid the groundwork for what officials describe as a new era of partnership. The two sides agreed to elevate the relationship further, framing it as "A Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity."
Progress Toward a Free Trade Agreement
Economic ties between the two countries continue building momentum. In July, India and Israel concluded the second round of negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement, aimed at securing an early, balanced, and comprehensive economic pact to strengthen trade and investment flows. Both governments have repeatedly stressed urgency in finalizing the deal, with earlier discussions between Modi and Netanyahu emphasizing the growing role of private-sector investment, innovation partnerships, and business cooperation in shaping the relationship's future.
A Partnership Spanning Multiple Sectors
The India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership now spans defense, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, agriculture, water management, health, and entrepreneurship, according to readouts from recent exchanges between the two governments. Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, said in June that bilateral ties remain on an "amazing trajectory" despite ongoing regional conflicts, pointing to expanding cooperation in defense, infrastructure, finance, and trade as evidence of the partnership's resilience. Azar noted that ties have consistently strengthened over the past three years, with both countries deepening engagement across multiple sectors simultaneously.
Regional Security Also on the Agenda
Beyond the bilateral economic and technology relationship, the leaders' conversations have increasingly touched on broader regional dynamics. In earlier exchanges, Modi reiterated India's support for efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the Middle East, including backing for initiatives addressing the situation in Gaza — reflecting India's growing willingness to engage with Israel not just on bilateral matters, but on wider regional and global challenges as well.
A Relationship Built Over Decades
The current warmth between the two governments builds on a relationship that has transformed dramatically since India and Israel established diplomatic ties in 1992, when bilateral trade stood at just $200 million. Since then, cooperation has expanded steadily across defense, agriculture, water technology, and increasingly, emerging fields like quantum technology, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence — areas Modi has previously highlighted as natural synergies between India's economic growth trajectory and Israel's technological leadership.
What's Next
With the second round of free trade talks concluded and both leaders publicly committed to deepening ties further, attention now turns to whether the two sides can finalize a comprehensive trade agreement in the months ahead, alongside continued cooperation on defense and security matters amid ongoing regional instability. For more on India-Israel relations, see the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.