In recent years, the diplomatic landscape has witnessed a transformative evolution in the relationship between India and Israel, marking a departure from historical norms. This paradigm shift is characterized by a profound depth and diversity, rendering it irrevocable. Historically, India maintained a cautious approach to its ties with Israel, given the complexities of its geopolitical positioning. However, the contemporary era has witnessed a strategic recalibration, with both nations recognizing the mutual benefits of a robust partnership. The depth of this relationship is evident not only in the defense and security collaboration but also in areas such as technology, agriculture, and innovation. The multifaceted nature of their engagement, spanning economic, cultural, and technological domains, underscores the irreversible nature of this bilateral bond. As both nations continue to navigate shared challenges and capitalize on common interests, the burgeoning ties between India and Israel are poised to shape the dynamics of regional and global diplomacy.
Tag: India and its neighbourhood- relations.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, try to write the background of Indian-Israel relations.
- In Body,
- Discuss the depth and diversity in relations.
- In Conclusion, try to end your answer by asserting that both nations have a very good relationship.
Answer:
India and Israel are two important democracies in South Asia and the Middle East. The diplomatic relations between the two nations were established in 1992, but the relations had little engagement for a long period. The diplomatic relations between India and Israel were established in 1992. Since then, especially during the Kargil war when Israel’s MOSSAD helped India’s RAW by providing critical intelligence inputs, relations between both countries have gained strength both in-depth and diversity. The present Israeli PM describes bilateral relations between the two nations as “marriage made in heaven.”
Depth and Diversity in Indian-Israel Relations:
- Economic and Commercial Relations: Bilateral trade between the two countries has increased from $200 million in 1992 to more than $5.65 billion (excluding defense) in 2018-19, with the balance of trade in India’s favor. Trade in diamonds constitutes about 40% of bilateral trade. In recent years, bilateral trade has diversified into several sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, water, IT, and telecom.
- Defense: India has a very close defense relationship with Israel, and it is the largest buyer of Israeli arms. Barak 8 missile was jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO); it is capable of protecting sea vessels and ground facilities from aircraft and cruise missiles. Recently India signed a nearly $ 2 billion defence deal with Israel.
- Agriculture: Both countries have a bilateral agreement (India-Israel Agriculture Cooperation Project) for cooperation in Agriculture. India has benefited from Israeli expertise and technologies in horticulture mechanization, protected cultivation, orchard and canopy management, nursery management, micro-irrigation, and post-harvest management. Israeli drip irrigation technologies and products are now widely used in India.
- Investment: Indian companies are marking their presence in Israel through mergers and acquisitions and by opening branch offices like TCS, and State Bank of India. In 2019, India’s Lohia Group acquired Israeli defense company Light & Strong.
- Science & Technology: Several MoUs have been signed in various fields of S&T like MoU for establishing India Israel Industrial R&D and Innovation Fund (i4F). India-Israel Cooperation Fund is aimed at promoting innovations through joint scientific and technological collaborations.
- Security: There is cooperation on security issues, including a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.
- Counter-terrorism: India-Israel counterterrorism cooperation is quite robust and has been scaled up gradually over the last few years through a joint working group on terrorism.India is adopting hi-tech anti-infiltration systems and innovative tactics from Israel to safeguard its western and eastern border.
- Cultural relation: India is known in Israel as an ancient nation with strong cultural traditions, and in popular Israeli perception, India is an attractive, alternative tourist destination.
- Indian Community: There are approximately 85,000 Jews of Indian origin in Israel (with at least one Indian parent), who are all Israeli passport holders.
Areas of Differences:
- The difference in terms of Iran – Israel considers Iran an existential threat, while India, on the other, has a historical relationship
- India finds the cooperation useful for energy supplies, and an alternative route through Chabahar port to Afghanistan and Central Asia
- A different approach towards the Arab world – While Israel has inherent differences with Arab countries, India has significant stakes there
- India’s recent vote at the UN against America’s move on Jerusalem was a reflection of that underlying reality.
- Stand on China – China is Israel’s largest trading partner in Asia, and there are strong technology and investment linkages.
- In terms of Pakistan – Israel’s interest lies in keeping open the possibility of relations, while there are serious tensions among India and Pakistan.
- Technology Transfer– There exist differences between India and Israel over issues related to technology transfer, end-user agreements, and a proposed free trade agreement, more so given India’s policy of ‘Make in India’.
- Free trade agreement (FTA) is stuck because of the concerns from the Indian domestic industry.
The growing relations between India and Israel are based on pragmatism emerging global scenarios and mutual dependency and trust, which has now moved to the extent from where it cannot be rolled back. Hence, the Indo-Israeli bilateral ties will increasingly be shaped by the rapidly evolving geopolitical realities in Asia and the Middle East.
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