India and Israel Fortify Anti-Terror and Trade Ties in Recent Ministerial Dialogues

Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation

India and Israel have reaffirmed their commitment to a robust strategic partnership, with high-level ministerial talks held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. These discussions, which took place in both New Delhi and Tel Aviv, aimed at intensifying cooperation in counter-terrorism, trade, infrastructure, and regional connectivity. The dialogues involved India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Israeli counterpart, Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who was on his first official visit to India.

The meetings underscored a shared vision for a 'zero-tolerance' approach to terrorism and explored avenues for deeper economic and strategic collaboration, including the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project.

Unified Front Against Terrorism

A significant portion of the discussions focused on bolstering counter-terrorism efforts. Both nations expressed a firm commitment to a global 'zero-tolerance' approach towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar emphasized that both countries face 'a particular challenge' from this menace, stating, 'It is essential that we work towards ensuring a global approach of zero tolerance towards terrorism, in all forms and manifestations.'

Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Sa'ar echoed these sentiments, describing 'radical terror' as a common threat. He reiterated Israel's condemnation of the April terror attack in Pahalgam and detailed Israel's ongoing fight against groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, labeling them as 'radical terror states.' The ministers also discussed enhancing intelligence sharing and counter-terror capabilities.

Expanding Economic and Connectivity Horizons

Beyond security, the talks extensively covered economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and regional connectivity. Both sides explored deepening collaboration under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a project designed to connect India, the Middle East, and Europe through a network of ports, rail, and road. Israel explicitly stated its support for IMEC and other regional connectivity initiatives like I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA).

Discussions also touched upon expanding economic engagement across various sectors, including:

• Trade
• Technology
• Innovation
• Mobility of professionals
• Agriculture
• Semiconductors
• Cybersecurity

A bilateral investment agreement, signed in September between India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Israeli counterpart Bezalel Smotrich, was highlighted as a notable step in this direction. The presence of approximately 40,000 Indian workers in Israel, primarily in caregiving and construction, was also acknowledged, with a focus on addressing their needs.

Deepening Defence Cooperation

In a parallel development, India and Israel signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand defence, industrial, and technology cooperation. This agreement was formalized during the 17th meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation in Tel Aviv. The MoU aims to deepen collaboration in defence manufacturing, research, and technology, providing a unified vision for the long-standing defence relationship.

The Indian delegation, led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, met with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and Defence Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram. The pact facilitates the sharing of advanced technologies and promotes co-development and co-production of key weapon systems and military hardware. India has historically been a significant consumer of Israeli military equipment, accounting for a substantial portion of Israel's arms exports.

Future Prospects

The recent talks signify a crucial phase in the India-Israel relationship, characterized by mutual trust and shared strategic interests. The discussions also laid the groundwork for a potential visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India in the coming months, further solidifying the bilateral ties. India also expressed its support for the US-brokered Gaza peace plan, hoping it would pave the way for a durable and lasting solution in the region.