India, Israel sign 27 agreements, upgrade ties to ‘Special Strategic Partnership’

27/02/2026

TEL AVIV, Feb 26: India and Israel on Thursday exchanged several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering artificial intelligence, financial connectivity through UPI, fisheries, culture, geoscience, and the Lothal Maritime Museum, following delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sixteen bilateral memoranda of understanding were signed between Israel and India, the office of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced.
Within this framework, Sa'ar and Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar signed "cooperation agreements in the areas of agricultural innovation and technologies, the use of civilian drones, satellite data, irrigation and fertilization management, pest control, greenhouse cultivation, and the transfer of knowledge in advanced agricultural technologies.
"This has been an amazing visit," Netanyahu said at a press briefing, recalling his long-standing personal connection with India. "I owe India a great personal debt," he added, referencing a date with his wife Sara Netanyahu at an Indian restaurant.
Indian Ambassador JP Singh formally exchanged the MoUs with the Israeli side. Both countries also announced that they were upgrading their bilateral ties to a "special strategic partnership." Modi said, "We will work to conclude a mutually beneficial free trade agreement," signaling deeper economic cooperation.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said, "When we talk about precision in education, we now have the software and the AI to reach every young student and enable them to reach their full potential. The limitations that were constraining us in previous times no longer constrain us."
He asserted that the future belongs to those who innovate. "Israel and India are bent on innovation. We are proud ancient civilisations, very proud of our past, but absolutely determined to seize the future-and we can do it better together," he said.
Netanyahu also added, "We have decided to have a G2G meeting in India. As soon as we can arrange it, we would like to take the distinguished ministers who are here."
During his two-day state visit, PM Modi met Israeli President Isaac Herzog, underlining the growing strategic depth of the relationship. Modi said the partnership "in many areas can be very strong and useful for the global good," highlighting Israel's expertise in water management, agriculture, science, innovation, and education.
"Whether it is science, innovation, or educational institutions, you have great expertise in certain areas, especially regarding water and agriculture," Modi said, noting that India has adopted several Israeli best practices with encouraging outcomes.
Herzog described India as "an essential part of a great future for the Middle East" and noted Israel's complementary role in India's development. He also encouraged academic exchanges, calling for stronger collaboration between Indian and Israeli universities and student programs.
The visit included Modi paying respects at Yad Vashem, Israel's official Holocaust memorial, and the two leaders planting a sapling at the Presidential office, reflecting the personal and diplomatic warmth of the visit.

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