Strategic Assessment

The past two and a half decades have seen a steady intensification of India-Israel relations. India has forged warm and mutually beneficial ties with Israel since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992, and these relations have seen Israel becoming one of India’s most important defense partners. Since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India in 2014, the Indo-Israeli relationship has assumed an altogether new dynamic marked by symbolic breakthroughs and substantive steps, particularly in the field of defense cooperation and counterterrorism. Despite its lack of hard power in the West Asian region, India has successfully managed to pursue economic ties with Arab countries even as it promotes an ever-expanding diplomatic and security partnership with Israel. India’s efforts to avoid choosing sides between Israel and the Palestinians stem from its desire to avoid domestic backlash and maintain good relations with both sides. The article argues that the nature and scope of India’s engagement with Israel are set to undergo a tectonic shift under Modi’s leadership.