India-Israel Relations in the 21st Century: A Politico-strategic Study

This paper explores the historical and geopolitical evolution of India-Israel relations, tracing their journey from early ethno-cultural interactions to a robust diplomatic partnership. In the early 20th century and throughout a larger period of it, we witness significant divergences in foreign policies marked between India and Israel. Until 1950, India did not officially recognize Israel as a nation-state, and its support was primarily tilted towards Arab nations. However, we witness a change since 1992, where both these nations started developing friendly relations along with establishing strong diplomatic ties. Through focus on certain key areas such as defense, trade, agriculture, and water management, this chapter attempts to draw a concrete picture of this bilateral relationship. In doing so, the chapter also focuses on providing an overview of future aspects, highlighting New Delhi's act of balancing its relations with Arab states and Israel, in both domestic and international political dynamics. The paper deploys a mixed research methodology, which includes analysis of published interviews with leaders and policy analysis. The most notable events to be highlighted in this analysis includes exchange of visits between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu, collaborations in India’s nuclear program, and advancements in defense and technology sectors. In its concluding argument, the paper evaluates potential benefits of high-technology cooperation and provides insights into the development of India’s Middle Eastern political agenda.