PM's Israel visit to 'Modi'fy India's defence strategy

2017 will be the landmark year for India and Israel as both the countries will be celebrating 25 years of diplomatic ties. Interestingly, though both these nations established full-fledged diplomatic relation on January 29, 1992, but till date no Indian Prime Minister has ever visited the Jewish country. 

In 2016, Pranab Mukherjee became the first Indian President to visit Israel and soon after, the Israeli President Reuven Rivlin visited India for a week. These historical visits open up doors for stronger strategic ties and increasing high-profile bilateral visits including ministers. 

PM Modi's visit has been confirmed by Daniel Carmon, Israel ambassador to India, who categorically said that "A visit by Prime Minister Modi will happen for sure, and it will be a very important one."

This high-profile visit by Indian PM will lead to paradigm shift in India's traditional foreign policy of maintaining a low profile about diplomatic and military transactions. 

Before 1992, India maintained its distance from the Jewish nation over its approach towards the Palestinians for decades. But, after formal ties were established, both the nations improved their strategic equation with defence and intelligence sharing becoming the focus of bilateral ties.

India happens to be Israel's biggest buyer of military hardware and also, Israel is the second biggest supplier of defence weapons to India.  Technology, innovation, agriculture and water conservation are other prominent areas of close cooperation.  

When the Israeli President visited India 15 memorandums of understanding were signed between universities to give a push to academic and research cooperation between both the nations.  

PM Modi's visit may further strengthen the ties between the nations and may prove to be a crucial move for India's defence ties. 

Interestingly in 2008, Narendra Modi, the then CM of Gujarat, visited Israel and many expected that as PM of India, this can be one of the first nations for Modi to visit. However, it has been more than two and half years since he became the Prime Minister and the much-anticipated visit is yet pending. 

• Israel
• Defence Ties
• PM Modi