Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to undertake a two-day visit to Israel from February 25 to 26, according to sources familiar with the development. The programme for the trip is currently being finalised, but officials indicate that the visit will include high-level engagements aimed at strengthening the already robust India–Israel partnership. During the visit, Modi is likely to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, where discussions are expected to focus on key bilateral and regional issues.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the anticipated visit and underscored the strength of ties between the two nations. Speaking about the upcoming engagement, Netanyahu described India and Israel as enjoying a “tremendous alliance” and indicated that a wide range of cooperative initiatives would be discussed during the Indian prime minister’s stay. His remarks reflect the growing strategic alignment between the two countries across multiple sectors.
The upcoming trip will mark Modi’s second visit to Israel, following his historic July 2017 visit, which was the first ever by an Indian prime minister. That visit was widely seen as a turning point in bilateral relations, elevating cooperation in defence, agriculture, water technology and innovation. Since then, the partnership has continued to expand through sustained diplomatic and ministerial exchanges.
Over the past year, several senior Israeli ministers, including Haim Katz, Nir Barkat, Avi Dichter and Bezalel Smotrich, have travelled to India. These visits have focused on advancing negotiations toward a long-pending India–Israel Free Trade Agreement and broadening economic engagement. During Smotrich’s visit, both sides signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty, and further progress was made when Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited Israel in November and agreed on the Terms of Reference for the proposed FTA.
Diplomatic engagement has remained active at the highest levels. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Israel in December, where he met Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Barkat. The meetings reviewed ongoing cooperation and explored new avenues for collaboration in emerging sectors.
Defence and technology cooperation continues to be a central pillar of the relationship. In November, India and Israel signed an agreement aimed at deepening collaboration in defence manufacturing, industry and advanced technology. The pact includes provisions for sharing advanced systems to support joint development and production initiatives.
The India–Israel Joint Working Group on defence also held its annual meeting in Tel Aviv, reviewing progress in joint planning, military training, defence industrial partnerships, research and development, artificial intelligence, cyber security and broader technological innovation. Officials from both countries have consistently highlighted these areas as key drivers of the strategic partnership.
Netanyahu announced Modi’s expected visit while addressing the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations, reiterating that India and Israel are strong strategic partners with expanding cooperation. Sources indicate that despite the short duration, the visit is expected to carry significant diplomatic weight and further consolidate the deepening engagement between the two nations.
With multiple agreements under discussion and defence and trade cooperation on the rise, Modi’s upcoming Israel visit is being viewed as another important step in strengthening the long-term strategic partnership between India and Israel.
