Ink 17 deals; agree to fast-track Free Trade Agreement
India and Israel on Thursday elevated their “time-tested” ties to a Special Strategic Partnership and agreed to fast-track negotiations on a long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA), even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi backed the Gaza peace initiative, asserting that humanity must never become a victim of conflict.
In his media statement after wide-ranging talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Modi said India’s security interests are directly linked to peace and stability in West Asia and reiterated New Delhi’s consistent call for a peaceful resolution to the Gaza conflict.
Following the talks, the two sides signed 17 agreements and documents covering cooperation in artificial intelligence, trade, investment, education, manufacturing, culture, maritime heritage, agriculture and several other sectors. They also agreed to expand their defence partnership through joint development and joint production of military hardware, including transfer of technologies.
Regional developments, including the US-Iran standoff, figured in the discussions. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Modi underlined India’s firm belief in dialogue and conveyed readiness to support efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful solution, if required.
Highlighting the steady upward trajectory of bilateral ties, Modi said the relationship rests on deep trust, shared democratic values and human compassion. “Our relationship has stood the test of time. Today, we took the historic decision to elevate our partnership to a Special Strategic Partnership. This reflects the aspirations of our people,” he said. The ties were earlier upgraded to a strategic partnership in 2017.
Describing economic cooperation as an engine of growth and innovation, Modi noted that the two countries signed a bilateral investment agreement last year to promote mutual investment. “We will soon finalise a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement,” he said.
The prime minister emphasised the joint resolve to combat terrorism and underlined that India’s security interests are closely linked to stability in the Middle East. He also referred to the decision to deepen collaboration in critical and emerging technologies, civil nuclear energy and space.
Modi highlighted robust engagement in agriculture and said both sides have decided to give the cooperation a futuristic direction, focusing on advanced technologies and sustainable practices.
At a media briefing, Misri, responding to a question on India’s position on Palestine, said New Delhi supports the US-endorsed Gaza Peace Initiative and referred to Modi’s remarks on the issue in his address to Israel’s Knesset a day earlier.
The two sides also reviewed progress on the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and discussed cooperation under the I2U2 framework involving India, Israel, the UAE and the United States, reaffirming their commitment to regional connectivity and economic integration.