Joint venture that'll hold beyond the war

Long, long ago last week, before the US and Israel ignited the whole of West Asia over a weekend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement of a 'hexagon of alliances... that see eye to eye on the reality, challenges, and goals against radical adversaries' was seen in the context of both countries' fight against terrorism. Even after war broke out, this context holds. Modi's address in the Knesset - coming as it did just before GoI released its first counterterrorism policy - was unequivocal in India standing with Israel on this matter. As did his rider: no cause justifies the killing of civilians, a statement that takes on special gravity with the war.

Formal India-Israel relationship, just three decades old, has received a big push in the last 10 yrs. Defence-related engagements are older, and remain core to the alliance. Deals of up to $10 bn have been signed, including tech transfer across four major elements of Israel's multilayered missile defence, and offensive and defensive drones. Other pillars are investment and trade. The two countries launched the first round of negotiations for an FTA, with 16 MoUs related to agriculture, AI, education and innovation signed.

West Asia is a key arena for the US-China shadow fight - Beijing's muted response being conspicuous in the current war so far. India's prep to protect its interests against an expansionist China, and with an unstable US stepping out of its backyard, is one reason for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), for which stronger strategic India-Israel ties are needed. Whatever the endgame of the ongoing war will be - and Netanyahu's fate in Israel's election this year - the latest bump-up in India-Israel relations will endure.