– Published in News Analytics September 2025 Edition
In an exclusive interaction with His Excellency Mr. Reuven Azar, Honourable Ambassador of Israel to India, Ms. Sandhya Srivastava, Editor-in-Chief of The News Analytics Herald (TNH), explores major issues in bilateral relations, strengthening ties, addressing regional challenges, and fostering global partnerships amidst an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. Excerpts from the conversation.
TNH. India and Israel share a historical and strong strategic partnership built on trust and mutual respect. How do you see this partnership evolving in the next decade?
The relations between India and Israel stand at a historic crossroad, characterised by a significant shift in global power and the rising threat of extremism & hybrid threats. These circumstances create a much more unstable and competitive environment. We must bank on the deep trust we have gained, on our shared democratic values, and on a shared vision of innovation to tackle these challenges.
In the coming decade, India and Israel will forge an even stronger strategic-tech alliance – co-developing next-generation defence technologies, nurturing vibrant start-up ecosystems, and advancing cutting-edge solutions in agriculture and water management. Together, we will address shared global challenges, including climate change, in order to achieve joint self-reliance, joint resilience and inclusive, sustainable growth.
Most importantly, people-to-people connections through education, culture, and tourism will remain at the heart of our relationship. India and Israel are not just partners; we are co-architects of a better, secure, and innovative future.
TNH. Both nations have deep defence ties, with major Israeli Defence majors like IAI and IWI having collaborations in technology and joint development with their Indian partners. What new areas of defence cooperation are currently being explored?
India and Israel share a trusted, strategic defence partnership that has only grown stronger over the years. Our cooperation goes far beyond a buyer-seller relationship; it is increasingly about joint production and R&D. Companies like IAI, Rafael, and Elbit are working closely with Indian counterparts under the spirit of ‘Make in India’ to provide solutions that serve the security needs of both nations.
Looking ahead, we are exploring new areas of collaboration in advanced air defence systems, drones and counter-drone technologies, artificial intelligence-driven defence solutions, space-based surveillance, autonomous devices and cyber security. Another emerging area is dual use technologies, where Israeli start-ups complement India’s vast talent pool in innovation.
The idea is to develop cutting-edge systems together, in India, not only for our mutual security but also for civilian purposes and for export to third countries. This reflects the trust, transparency, and long-term vision that guide India–Israel defence relations.
TNH. Bilateral trade in 2024-25 has been around $4 billion, a decline from the previous year, primarily due to the regional security situation and trade route disruptions. How are Israel and India working to restore the trade volume and further diversify trade beyond defence and agriculture?
While bilateral trade in 2024-25 saw some decline due to regional security challenges and disruptions in trade routes, both Israel and India remain committed to strengthening our economic partnership. Beyond defence and agriculture, we are actively exploring opportunities in high-tech sectors such as water technology, artificial intelligence, and digital innovation.
Throughout the year, we had initiatives such as joint start-up programs, innovation hubs, and business delegations aimed to create new avenues for trade and investment. At the same time, both governments are working to streamline logistics and enhance connectivity to ensure smoother trade flows. Our focus is on building a resilient, diversified partnership that reflects the full potential of our bilateral relationship.
TNH. Israel is a global leader in innovation, agritech, and AI, while India is a digital powerhouse. What joint initiatives are being planned in high-tech and emerging technologies?
Israel and India share a natural synergy when it comes to innovation. Israel’s expertise in agritech, AI, cyber technologies, and start-up culture complements India’s strength as a global digital hub with a vast talent pool. Building on this, we are planning joint initiatives in areas like precision agriculture, water and energy technologies, AI-driven solutions, cybersecurity, and smart city projects.
One key focus is the Israel-India Innovation Bridge, which facilitates collaborations between start-ups, research institutions, and government agencies in both countries. We are also expanding programs for joint R&D in emerging technologies, ensuring that innovations developed together can benefit not only our nations but also have a global impact.
TNH. In recent weeks, there have been global trade disruptions owing to perceived trade imbalances, directly impacting major economies like India. Does Israel view this as temporary turbulence or a shift with lasting geopolitical consequences?
Israel sees the recent disruptions in global trade as largely stemming from regional uncertainties. Conflicts and tensions in key areas, including attacks on shipping routes by groups such as the Houthis, have directly impacted trade flows and created temporary bottlenecks for major economies like India.
These developments highlight the importance of strengthening cooperation, diversifying supply chains, and investing in resilient trade and logistics networks. For Israel and India, it reinforces our commitment to working together to ensure stable and secure trade links, even amid regional challenges.
TNH. West Asia faces ongoing instability, while Asia is witnessing shifting power dynamics. How can India and Israel work together to promote regional peace and stability?
India and Israel share a commitment to regional peace, stability, and security. In West Asia, facing ongoing instability and an Asia witnessing shifting power dynamics, our cooperation goes beyond defence and technology; it is also about dialogue, intelligence sharing, and building resilient security frameworks.
Together, we can work on counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, maritime security, and humanitarian assistance, while promoting economic and technological partnerships that create stability through growth. By strengthening bilateral ties and supporting multilateral initiatives, India and Israel aim to contribute to a more secure and stable regional environment.
TNH. Both nations face security threats from terrorism and extremism. How do you see counterterrorism cooperation between India and Israel strengthening in the future?
India and Israel are intensifying cooperation to address terrorism and extremism in all its forms. Our partnership goes beyond traditional security measures; it includes intelligence sharing, joint training programs, and the co-development of advanced technologies for threat detection and prevention. We are working together on cybersecurity, border protection, unmanned systems, and real-time threat analysis to respond to emerging challenges swiftly and effectively.
This collaboration not only strengthens the security of both nations but also contributes to regional stability, helping protect trade routes, critical infrastructure, and citizens. The trust, shared experiences, and strategic alignment between India and Israel make this partnership a model for how nations can work together to counter complex security threats in an increasingly uncertain world.
TNH. With rising multipolarity and power competition, middle powers are gaining importance. How can India and Israel jointly navigate these global transitions?
We can leverage our strengths to navigate global transitions more effectively. India is going to become the third largest economy in the world within 2-3 years. It is no longer looking inwards but looking also outwards, with the intent of becoming a production hub for the world. Israel can take part in that process by sourcing some of its services and products in India. More importantly, Israel can provide innovative solutions to increase India’s competitive edge in global markets. One example is the car industry. Israeli mobility companies are entering into partnerships with local vehicle producers. One major Indian firm purchased an Israeli electronics factory to upgrade the quality of its products for both its local and international markets.
To make this integration process faster and more efficient, we need to pave the way to our private sector to do business more smoothly. We are going to sign a Bilateral Investment Treaty in the coming weeks. We are bringing a senior delegation from our financial sector to see how to make sure that transactions between our companies are made faster and cheaper. Israel has provided India a TOR to the Indian side to launch talks on a Bilateral Trade Deal. These are essential tools in order to develop and increase trade and investments.
TNH. From defence to diplomacy, the India-Israel relationship spans multiple domains. In your view, what should be the defining feature of bilateral ties in the next two decades?
India and Israel will enhance their technological cooperation, starting from more robust academic interactions. During the last few months, presidents of major Israeli universities came to India to partner not just on students and advanced studies exchanges, but also to create collaboration between the entrepreneurship and technology offices in our institutions and those of local universities.
We are promoting collaboration between start-ups through our joint R&D fund, which already spent USD 25 Million in supporting partnerships. In addition, innovation delegations travel to Israel and come to India quite often. In September an Israeli Fintech delegation will visit Gift City in Ahmedabad, Delhi and Mumbai with the aim of creating partnerships in this important field, which is quite advanced in India.
Another vertical will be infrastructure. We are interested in attracting Indian companies to apply for infrastructure tenders in Israel. Dozens of billions of dollars in new tenders, such as for the construction of a 150 km subterranean metro system in the greater Tel Aviv area are going to be published in the coming months and years. The introduction of Indian companies into our market will ensure competition and better performance of the projects. This has the potential of substantially widening trade and creating permanent representation of Indian companies in Israel.
TNH. Israel continues to face complex security challenges on one hand and global concerns about the regional situation on the other. There have also been reports suggesting some European countries’ consideration of recognising Palestine. How does Israel view these developments, and what alternate solution is Israel proposing for their resolution?
Israel’s priority remains the safety and security of its citizens. We are focused in defeating Hamas and bringing back our hostages. Both goals combined are difficult to achieve, and that’s why the war has been going on for so long. Israel will continue using both diplomacy and military pressure until our goals are achieved.
The fact that Hamas takes credit for the intention of some countries to recognize a Palestinian State tells you how counterproductive these declarations are and how they undermine negotiations to end the war.
The Palestinians had a chance to build a state in Gaza after Israel withdrew in 2005. However instead of building their own state, they decided to engage in a war to destroy our state, the State of Israel. That is a major set-back for Palestinian statehood. We have to make sure that we prevent another October 7th. Israel is consulting with the US and other partners in the region how to create a better future for Gaza. We will be very risk averse in order to prevent repetition of past mistakes. Israel is not interested in ruling Gaza, but we will have to maintain overriding security control while the civilian affairs can hopefully be transferred to a more pragmatic local leadership which has the backing of the international community.
