India–Israel Relations

India and Israel formally upgraded their relationship to a 'special strategic partnership' during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel in late February 2026, signing 16 new agreements covering security, artificial intelligence, agriculture, water, energy and cultural exchange. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the trip 'extraordinarily productive,' framing both countries as ancient democracies focused on innovation, while Modi said the move 'symbolizes the aspirations of our two peoples.' The upgraded status comes as the U.S. and Israel escalate pressure on Iran, with Netanyahu recently discussing Tehran with President Donald Trump at the White House and Trump using his State of the Union and other remarks to warn that Iran is developing missiles capable of reaching Europe and eventually the U.S. Trump reiterated that his preference is diplomacy but vowed he would 'never allow' Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, even as U.S. envoys head to Geneva for new talks. For Washington, India’s closer alignment with Israel could affect defense cooperation, technology flows and regional balancing vis‑à‑vis Iran and China, making the trilateral dynamics among the U.S., Israel and India increasingly important to watch.