Israel-India Partnership Deepens as Middle East Tensions Escalate
As fighting and diplomatic tensions continue to reshape the Middle East, India and Israel are moving to reinforce a relationship that has become increasingly important to both countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone on August 6, 2026, reviewing the progress of their Special Strategic Partnership and discussing developments in West Asia. The two leaders also agreed to remain in contact.
Israel’s Defence Ministry has described India as a key strategic partner. At the same time, both countries are expanding collaboration in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, agriculture, water management and other advanced technologies. These growing links have given the relationship greater economic and diplomatic weight. However, rising regional tensions have also created new challenges for New Delhi. Threats to energy supplies and maritime trade could affect India’s wider interests. As a result, the India-Israel partnership has become an increasingly important part of India’s security and foreign policy calculations.
India and Israel Strengthen Defence, Technology and Trade Cooperation
The conversation came at a particularly sensitive moment. The conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran has continued to affect security across the region, while disruptions around major maritime routes have added an economic dimension to the crisis. On August 12, Iran said there had been no progress in efforts to revive an interim arrangement with Washington, leaving uncertainty over the possibility of another escalation.
For India, the stakes extend beyond diplomacy. The country has deep economic, energy and people-to-people links with the wider Middle East. It therefore has an interest in maintaining relations with Israel while also protecting its broader regional interests.
India-Israel Ties Face Growing Regional Challenges
The relationship received a major political boost under Modi. In February 2026, Modi visited Israel and became the first Indian prime minister to address the Knesset. During that visit, he described the relationship in terms of friendship, respect and partnership, while also expressing India’s solidarity with Israel following the October 2023 Hamas attack. Hours after the October 7, 2023, attacks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India stood ‘in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour,’ while expressing condolences to the victims and their families. Modi posted on X “Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”
Regional instability has also created uncertainty around the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The proposed corridor is intended to strengthen trade and connectivity between India, the Middle East and Europe. However, prolonged conflict could disrupt shipping routes, investment plans and regional infrastructure projects. It could also put pressure on India’s energy supplies and wider commercial interests. For New Delhi, the challenge is now clear: it must deepen its strategic partnership with Israel while keeping trade, energy security and regional connectivity on track. That balance will remain central to India’s West Asia policy as the crisis continues.
Web Resources on Israel-India Partnership Deepens
1. Guardian.com : As conflict in the Middle East intensifies, India’s relationship with Israel deepens.