![](https://bharatshakti.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LT-BSI-Defence.gif")
Narendra Modi on Thursday said India and Israel will step up defence cooperation through joint development, production, and technology transfer, while also moving forward with negotiations for a free trade agreement.
Addressing a joint press briefing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after delegation-level talks in Jerusalem, Modi said the two sides had agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation & Prosperity.”
Calling it a historic step, Modi said the decision reflects the aspirations of both nations and rests on “deep trust, shared democratic values and humanitarian bonds.” He added that the talks focused on giving new direction and momentum to cooperation across several sectors.
According to a joint statement, discussions covered defence and security, technology and innovation, cybersecurity, trade and investment, connectivity, agriculture, water management, environmental protection, counter-terrorism, parliamentary exchanges, health, education and people-to-people ties.
A key outcome of the meeting was the decision to launch a Critical and Emerging Technologies Partnership. The initiative, to be led by the national security advisers of both countries, will focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and critical minerals. Officials said the partnership aims to combine the strengths of both countries in niche technologies and promote long-term collaboration.
The two sides also agreed to cooperate in “horizon scanning”, a framework intended to strengthen strategic foresight, risk assessment and technology planning through joint research, capacity building and AI-driven analytical tools, according to India’s foreign ministry.
On defence, Modi noted that the two countries have decades of trusted cooperation. Referring to the defence cooperation memorandum of understanding signed in November 2025, he said it would open new avenues for collaboration. “Together, we will advance towards joint development, joint production and transfer of technology,” he said.
Both leaders also highlighted expanding cooperation in civil nuclear energy and space. They welcomed ongoing collaboration between the Israel Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation, noting the potential for deeper engagement between Israeli space start-ups and Indian companies through joint ventures, innovation partnerships and knowledge sharing.
The joint statement said the leaders had outlined a roadmap for future defence cooperation and acknowledged the steady growth in bilateral defence ties, both in scope and scale.
Team BharatShakti
