Modi visit set to open ‘new phase’ in India-Israel ties, ambassador tells ‘Post’
“Prime Minister Mr Modi is visiting after almost nine years,” Singh said, referring to Modi’s historic trip to Israel in 2017. “This visit is going to be a very historic visit.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit is expected to launch “a new phase” in India-Israel relations, with a broader agenda focused on cutting-edge technology, trade and strategic cooperation. India’s Ambassador to Israel, JP Singh, made this point in an interview with The Jerusalem Post Tuesday, before Modi arrives in Israel on Wednesday.
In an interview with The Jerusalem Post On Tuesday, Singh said the visit came after a long hiatus at the highest level and carried unusual symbolic and practical weight.
“Prime Minister Mr Modi is visiting after almost nine years,” Singh said, referring to Modi’s historic trip to Israel in 2017. “This visit is going to be a very historic visit.”
He said that once Modi “touches[es] Israeli soil”, “a new phase in our relationship will begin” and “a new chapter in our relationship will begin”.
Singh framed the visit as both a political and strategic reset between two leaders who have remained in touch over the years.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi arrive for a photo opportunity before their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, January 15, 2018. (credit: Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
Modi last visited Israel in July 2017, when ties were elevated to a strategic partnership, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited India again in January 2018, according to the official bilateral calendar of the Israeli Embassy in India.
Netanyahu announces Modi visit
Netanyahu announced Sunday that Modi would visit Israel on Wednesday, saying the Indian leader is expected to address the Knesset, visit Yad Vashem and participate in events focused on innovation and cooperation in high technology.
THE Job reported that Netanyahu also highlighted future cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
Singh reinforced that agenda in the interview, saying the visit would include a detailed meeting with Netanyahu, a visit to Yad Vashem and a meeting with President Isaac Herzog. He also highlighted the importance of Modi’s planned speech to the Knesset, which he described as a first for an Indian prime minister.
Singh said: “One of the most important elements will be [that] he will be the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Knesset,” adding that the speech would be widely followed in Israel and India.
“Broaden and deepen”
When asked what he meant by “new phase”, Singh replied that the next stage in India-Israel relations is both expansion and consolidation.
“We will broaden and deepen our relations,” he said.
By “expand,” Singh said he meant going beyond a limited number of sectors to build a more comprehensive framework including financial cooperation, trade and cross-border payments. He specifically highlighted the possibility of future work on financial systems, including money transfer mechanisms and cross-border payment infrastructure.
By “deepen,” he meant more integrated collaboration between the two countries’ innovation ecosystems, including startups, technology partnerships, as well as greater scope for technology transfer and leveraging combined strengths.
“There are no limits,” he said. Singh declined to provide details on the agreements expected to be signed during the visit, saying the details had not yet been officially announced. He said, however, that the agreements would cover “the most different aspects” of the relationship.
He cited science and technology, cultural ties, agriculture, research and development, centers of excellence and defense cooperation among the areas likely to be covered.
Technology at the center
One of the major themes of the visit, Singh explained, will be the overlap between the scale of India and the Israeli innovation ecosystem.
Priority areas, he said, include science and technology, critical and emerging technologies, AI, cybersecurity and quantum cooperation.
“Somewhere we have to combine the strength of both countries,” Singh said.
This emphasis is consistent with government messaging and recent public reports. Netanyahu said this week that Israel and India would foster cooperation in high-tech, AI and quantum computing, while Singh told Indian state media that the two ecosystems “complement each other.”
The economic logic behind this push has strengthened in recent years. Reuters reported in July that Israel and India were finalizing an investment protection agreement and cited Israeli officials as saying that India had become one of Israel’s most important trading partners, particularly in Asia. Reuters also reported that bilateral trade in 2024 was almost $4 billion.
Personal connection, strategic importance
Singh also highlighted the personal relationship between Modi and Netanyahu as an asset in moving policy forward.
He described relations between the two leaders as “very warm, very friendly, very brotherly” and said the dynamic could help accelerate broader cooperation.
At the same time, he said the leaders’ discussions would go beyond bilateral issues. Asked if regional instability would arise, Singh said the talks would cover “bilateral issues, as well as regional and global issues”, and described the expected conversation as “very fluid”.
For Singh, the central message of the visit is that India-Israel relations are entering a more ambitious phase after years of steady growth.
“This visit will give us a roadmap and vision for our future relationship,” he said.
If the agreements announced after the leaders’ meetings match the scope described by Singh, the visit will be remembered not only for its symbolism but also for setting the terms of the next Indo-Israeli chapter.
