India’s engagement with Israel has undergone a profound transformation from cautious diplomatic recognition to a visible and multidimensional strategic partnership encompassing defence cooperation, intelligence coordination, technological exchange, and political symbolism. Although India formally recognised Israel in 1950, Cold War strategic constraints, domestic political sensitivities, and solidarity with the Palestinian cause kept bilateral relations measured for decades. Successive Indian governments sought to preserve a delicate equilibrium between principled support for Palestinian self-determination and quiet engagement with Israel in defence and agricultural sectors, reflecting India’s non-aligned posture and pluralistic domestic politics.

The post–Cold War era gradually loosened these constraints. Economic liberalisation, defence modernisation, and evolving counterterrorism priorities encouraged New Delhi to explore deeper strategic engagement with Israel. However, the decisive shift occurred following the electoral victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014. Under Narendra Modi, India–Israel relations moved from strategic discretion to strategic declaration. Modi’s landmark 2017 visit to Israel symbolised a historic departure from diplomatic hesitation, normalising overt defence cooperation........

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