Tel Aviv / New Delhi: India and Israel will tighten their defence cooperation and Israeli defence companies will transfer more technologies to Indian companies. This in wake of the visit of Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz who was hosted on June 2 by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The visit marks 30 years of Israel-India relations.
Defence Minister Benny Gantz said that India and Israel share similar and common challenges, including border security and fighting terrorism. “By working together, we may increase our capabilities and ensure the security and economic interests of both countries.”
Defence Minister Benny Gantz met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 2 as part of his official visit, marking 30 years of diplomatic ties and defence cooperation between Israel and India. Earlier today, Israeli Defence Minister Gantz met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Gantz emphasised the opportunity to invest further in defence cooperation between the two countries, while building on shared values in order to contribute to global stability.
He said, “India is an industrial superpower and Israel is a technological superpower – cooperation between our countries will expand the capabilities of both countries to contend with developing challenges.”
Defence Minister Benny Gantz began his official visit to India on June 2 by honouring fallen troops at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. Following the morning ceremony, Minister Gantz was hosted by his Indian counterpart, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, as the countries mark 30 years of official diplomatic ties and defence cooperation. The parties reiterated their commitment to deepening and expanding defence cooperation by presenting a vision for future collaboration, outlined in a joint declaration.
The Ministers conducted a discussion that covered topics including strategic global challenges, military cooperation, defence industrial cooperation and joint R&D. They also discussed a cooperation agreement signed between the Indian DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and Israel’s Directorate for Defence R&D, which will enable the expansion of technological collaboration and development between the countries.
During the bilateral discussion, the Ministers declared their intention to further develop defence cooperation between the countries in a manner that harnesses Israel’s technological advance and operational experience, together with India’s extraordinary development and production capabilities. Cooperation between the countries would be in line with Prime Minister Modi’s “Make in India” vision.
Lastly, the Ministers discussed partnerships within the Government-to-Government framework, military training, and technological cooperation with a focus on UAVs and defensive capabilities.
On the Israeli side the meeting was attended by Chief of Staff to Israel’s Minister of Defence Maayan Israeli, Military Secretary Brig. Gen. Yaki Dolf, Director of the Policy and POL-MIL Bureau Dror Shalom, Head of the International Defence Cooperation Directorate Yair Kulas, Israel’s Defence Attache to India Col. Asaf Maller, and Ambassador Naor Gilon.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
