PM Modi Begins Israel Visit to Deepen Defence, Trade and Innovation Cooperation

New Delhi- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Israel from Wednesday, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to further strengthen bilateral ties across defence and security, trade and economic relations, and innovation.

Announcing the visit on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said this will be PM Modi’s second visit to Israel. During the talks, the two leaders will review progress in the India–Israel Strategic Partnership and explore new avenues of cooperation in areas such as science and technology, innovation, defence and security, agriculture, water management, trade and the economy, and people-to-people exchanges.

PM Modi will also meet Israel’s President Isaac Herzog during the visit.

Meanwhile, negotiations for the proposed India–Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are underway in New Delhi and will continue until February 26, coinciding with the Prime Minister’s visit. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the timing of the talks is expected to give fresh momentum to bilateral economic engagement.

The Terms of Reference for the FTA were signed in November 2025, laying out a structured framework to expand trade and economic cooperation. The agreement is expected to provide greater certainty to businesses, including MSMEs, and unlock new opportunities across multiple sectors.

India and Israel share complementary strengths in innovation, science and technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, high-tech manufacturing, agriculture and services, which officials believe could significantly boost bilateral trade under the FTA framework.

With inputs from IANS