India, Israel adopt joint vision on future Defence cooperation
India and Israel on June 2 adopted a joint vision on future military and industrial cooperation.
The occasion was the visit of the Israeli Defence Minister Benjamin Gangtz to New Delhi. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Tel Aviv. Israel has emerged an important Defence industrial partner for India, particularly in the area of missiles, air defence technologies. It has assumed a leadership position in unmanned systems.
In a bilateral meeting, Defence Ministers Rajnath Singh and Gantz “discussed ways to increase cooperation in all domains with a focus on Research & Development in future technologies and defence co-production”.
“With the intention to further strengthen the existing framework of the Indo-Israeli defence cooperation architecture, both sides adopted the India-Israel Vision on Defence Cooperation. A Letter of Intent on enhancing cooperation in the field of Futuristic Defence Technologies was also exchanged between the two Ministers,” a statement issued by India’s Ministry of Defence stated.
“We held an important discussion on future industrial and military cooperation. We reiterated our commitment to further expanding defense ties by presenting a common vision for cooperation, outlined in a joint declaration. Together we can increase our capabilities and ensure both nation’s security and economic interest,” Gantz stated.
“Defence Ministers Gantz and Singh talked about expanding defence ties by presenting a common vision for cooperation, outlined in a joint declaration. This will contribute to establishing the security, political and economic interest of both the countries,” the Embassy of Israel in India stated.
According to the statement issued by India’s Ministry of Defence, both Ministers acknowledged mutual security challenges and their convergences on a number of strategic and defence issues. They expressed commitment to work together to enhance cooperation in all forums.
“A wide range of issues concerning bilateral, regional and defence industrial cooperation were discussed during the meeting. The two Ministers reviewed the existing military-to-military activities which have increased despite the challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement elaborated.
Soon after his arrival in New Delhi, Minister Gantz, visited the National War Memorial and paid homage to the fallen heroes by laying wreath at the monument. He was accorded a tri-service guard of honour before his bilateral meeting with Singh at Vigyan Bhawan. This is his first visit to India.
In the run-up to the The year 2022 marks 30 years of diplomatic re30th anniversary of the establishment of India-Israel diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on the sidelines of the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow on November 2, 2021.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid an official visit to Israel from October 17 to 21, 2021.
The annual India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence was held in Israel on October 26-27, 2021.
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