India and Israel have solidified their defense partnership with a new agreement aimed at co-developing and producing advanced military technologies. This development underscores the strengthening ties between the two nations, which have been enhancing their security collaboration in recent years.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Tel Aviv during the 17th India-Israel Joint Working Group meeting on defense cooperation. Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, director general of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, represented their respective countries. The agreement outlines a “unified vision and policy direction” that aims to deepen military collaboration, focusing on key areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber defense, defense research, innovation, and training.
Officials from both sides took the opportunity to review existing defense projects and discuss potential new areas for collaboration. They acknowledged that the mutual exchange of capabilities has resulted in significant benefits for both nations.
Additionally, the leaders reiterated their collective commitment to counterterrorism and mitigating shared security threats. According to a statement from the Indian defense agency, the MoU facilitates the sharing of advanced technologies, thereby promoting both co-development and co-production.
During this significant meeting, Singh also engaged with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz to discuss the outcomes of the working group and explore avenues for enhancing future defense programs. This engagement underlines India’s status as a major purchaser of Israeli military equipment, which includes drones, missiles, and precision-guided weapons.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Israel constituted 13 percent of India’s arms imports from 2020 to 2024, making it India’s third-largest arms supplier, following Russia and France. This ongoing partnership continues to evolve, reflecting both countries’ dedication to bolstering their military alliances.
This latest MoU follows a prior visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to New Delhi, where he held discussions with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Their talks encompassed defense, trade, and counterinsurgency strategies, culminating in a reaffirmation of a firm stance against terrorism.
As these developments unfold, the India-Israel partnership in defense is poised to deepen, with both nations looking to leverage their strengths to bolster security and operational capabilities further.
