India-Israel Relations: Prospects and Challenges

Key Points

1. The basis of the relations is rooted in 3 important factors: Shared Values, Shared Interests and Shared Challenges.
2. India has opportunity to continue robust relations in West Asia by instituting non-parallel engagements and by projection of soft power.
3. The main pillars of cooperation have been defence, agriculture, water, energy, and homeland security. The total trade in 2013 stood at $6.01 billion.
4. Economic: There are no positive signs that trade will dramatically change due to the FTA between India and Israel. Future areas of cooperation include agriculture and water technology.
5. Defence: Large number of contracts in pipeline. There is professed willingness of Israeli companies to transfer core technology and to create platforms of joint R&D. India could look at buying defence companies, if financially feasible.
6. The ‘Make in India’ and ‘Buy and Make in India’ programmes and initiatives in defense-related issues already being addressed and some Israeli companies are engaging in JVs with Indian counterparts.
7. Political: The actions of the new government at Centre since 2014, seems to suggest an assertive pro-Israeli policy.