News Report: India, Israel Ink Deal for Air Defense System, Radars, UAVs Worth $4.3 Bln

Indian companies have signed 12 strategic agreements ranging from air defense systems, radars, anti-ship missiles to medium altitude long endurance UAVs in India under technology transfer worth $4.3 billion during the first formal meeting of India-Israel CEOs forum in Tel Aviv.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – The meeting took place at the end of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.

Pune-based Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd has signed a joint venture agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for addressing a range of opportunities across air defense systems, radars, anti-ship missiles and command & control systems for the Indian armed forces. Both the companies will produce weapons worth $1.54 billion over a period of 7-10 years.

The two CoChairs of the India Israel CEO Forum sign and exchange the Joint Intentions document. Very smooth discussion and conclusion. pic.twitter.com/xpu8FQwe9A

— Dr A Didar Singh (@SecyGEN_ficci) July 6, 2017

News Report: As Modi Visits Israel, India Embraces Growing Ties with Jewish State

Anjana Pasricha

NEW DELHI — Twenty-five years after establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, India is openly embracing its growing ties with Jerusalem as Narendra Modi becomes the first Indian prime minister to travel there on Tuesday.

New Delhi, traditionally a supporter of the Palestinian cause, has quietly fostered growing ties with Israel, but avoided high profile visits.

India’s Hindu nationalist leader will set aside that caution and hesitation as he holds official talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Relationship out in the open

“The Modi government is a lot less constrained by the previous political thinking about not upsetting the Arabs or visibly giving up on the Palestinian cause or for that matter courting the India Muslim sentiment at home,” says strategic affairs expert, Bharat Karnad at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi.

In comments to the Indian Express newspaper, India’s ambassador to Israel, Pavan Kapoor, called it the “formal coming out of the relationship.”

It is not a coincidence that this is happening under Modi — he has been a long admirer of Israel’s military and technical expertise.

News Report: Defense, Cyber Security Cooperation Key Topics on Modi's Agenda in Israel

Cyber security cooperation will be one of the main points of discussion during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Israel, which will be the first by an Indian prime minister ever since the two countries established diplomatic relations 25 years ago.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – Prime Minister Modi is embarking on a three-day visit to Israel on July 4. India established diplomatic ties with Israel in 1992 and since then the relationship has evolved into a multi-dimensional partnership. This year, the two countries are commemorating 25 years of diplomatic relations.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Israel from July 4 to 6 at the invitation of Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel. This is the first ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Israel,” the Ministry of External Affairs statement said.

“During the visit, the Prime Minister will have detailed discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu on all matters of mutual interest and will also call on President Rivlin,” statement said.

News Report: Will Indian PM Make First-Ever Visit to Israel This Year?

Leaders from India have hesitated to visit Israel because of its attachment to the Palestinian cause. Modi broke the taboo and a flurry of visits indicates he will be the first Indian PM to visit Israel.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India and Israel are expected to mark their 25 years of diplomatic ties with the most high-profile visit – that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the first half of 2017.

This will be the Indian Prime Minister's first-ever trip to the Jewish nation and will mark a significant shift from the traditional foreign policy that forced New Delhi to keep its diplomatic and military transactions as low key as possible.

India-Israel established formal ties in 1992 but high-profile visits have been rare. That has changed under the Modi government.

Pranab Mukherjee went to Israel in 2016 in a historic first visit by an Indian President and his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin spent a full week in India a few months later. In between, there have been several other high-profile bilateral visits of ministers.