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OPINION JUNE 17, 2022 | The Indian Eye 10

The India-Israel Defense

and Security Partnership At 30

The Modi government built on the foundations of the robust India-Israel defense and

security engagement and took it to a whole new dimension

S. SAMUEL C. RAJIV accounting for 12 per cent of India’s
arms imports, displacing Israel at the
ndia-Israel relations took on a third position.
new dimension after Prime Min- Prior to 2014, India’s relations
Iister Narendra Modi’s visit to with Israel in particular and its ap-
Jerusalem in July 2017. Bilateral re- proach towards the West Asian re-
lations are on a strong footing, with gion in general, has been character-
strengthened cooperation in the ized as a ‘fine balance’, ‘the delicate
defense sector, apart from robust balance’, and ‘straddling fault lines’.
people-to-people links. Israel, for In the September 10, 2003 Delhi
instance, accounted for the largest Statement on Friendship and Coop-
number of foreign tourist arrivals eration, signed when Prime Minister
(FTA) from West Asia during 2017- Ariel Sharon visited India – the first
19, at nearly 200,000 visitors cumula- ever visit by an Israeli Prime Minister
tively for that period, followed by vis- – India and Israel had pledged to en-
itors from the United Arab Emirates hance the frequency of political and
(UAE), at about 180,000. business interactions.
India-Israel bilateral trade, from While there was significant po-
around US$ 500 million in 1995, litical traffic, with cabinet ministers
peaked to around US$ 6.7 billion and state chief ministers visiting Is-
in 2011-12 but dropped to US$ 4.6 rael prior to 2017, high-level political
billion in 2020-21, in the wake of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at a bilateral meeting with Israel Defence Minister interaction was missing. The term
the pandemic. In 2021-22, bilateral ‘strategic partner’ was also conspicu-
trade increased to US$ 6.9 billion, Benjamin Gantz, in New Delhi ously absent in major bilateral docu-
a growth of nearly 50 per cent. The ments like the September 2003 Joint
bilateral trade, though, is more often two occasions when the Government Russia, meanwhile, was India’s Statement. Senior Indian cabinet
described as made up of ‘diamonds of India informed Parliament of the biggest arms supplier during 2017- ministers on their part, highlighted
and defense’, as these components financial value of India-Israel de- 21, accounting for 46 per cent of the the need not to advertise their close
are the defining characteristics of fense cooperation. In recent times, country’s imports. defense and security relationship.
the relationship. Trade in HS Clas- as during 2016-20, India accounted To be sure, India’s high-level
sification code 71, relating to natural for 43 per cent of Israel’s total arms During the previous five-year political interactions not just with Is-
or cultured pearls and/or precious exports, with Azerbaijan a distant rael, but with other significant coun-
stones, for instance, during the last second, accounting for 17 per cent. period, 2012-16, India’s arms tries in West Asia like Saudi Arabia
five years accounted for 36.7 per cent Israel was the eighth-largest imports from Russia stood at and Iran, were infrequent prior to
of total trade (US$ 9.5 billion out of arms exporter globally during this 2014. India’s West Asia policy, wad-
a total cumulative trade of US$ 25.8 period, accounting for 3 per cent of nearly 70 per cent of its total ing through the regional geopolitical
billion during this period). global arms exports, after the US, arms imports. hotspots though, continued to ex-
As for the volume of defense Russia, France, Germany, China, the pand the space for the pursuit of its
trade, A.K. Antony, the then De- United Kingdom and Spain. During France (18 per cent) and Isra- national interests. India, for instance,
fense Minister, informed the Upper 2017-21, India’s share in Israel’s glob- el (13 per cent), other than Russia, engaged multiple regional players,
House of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) al exports fell to 37 per cent, followed made up the top three arms suppliers even if these countries had inimical
in May 2007 that ‘defense purchases’ by Azerbaijan (13 per cent) and Viet- to India during 2016-20. While India or non-existent relations bilaterally
from Israel during 2002-2007 were nam (11per cent), respectively. imported 18 per cent of its arms from between themselves.
over $5 billion. Missiles and sensors over- France during this period, French The Modi government built on
Prior to this, in August 2005, whelmingly make up the quantum the foundations of the robust In-
Deputy Defense Minister B.K. of defense exports from Israel. Since exports to India accounted for 21 dia-Israel defense and security en-
per cent of that country’s total arms
Handique told the Rajya Sabha that 2000, for instance, Israel has export- exports, ahead of Egypt and Qatar, gagement and took it to a whole new
‘the total value of the purchase con- ed more than $13 billion worth of at 20 and 18 per cent, respectively. dimension. Prime Minister Modi
tracts’ with Israel during 2002-2005, defense equipment, as per the Stock- During 2017-21, French arms ex- assumed office in mid-2014, in the
for purchase of ‘military hardware, holm Peace Research Institute (SI- ports to India increased dramatically, wake of the significant electoral vic-
equipment and ammunition’, was Rs. PRI) Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). accounting for 27 per cent of India’s tory achieved by the Bhartiya Janata
11,882.54 crores.’ Out of these, missiles and sensors total imports, with the United States Party (BJP)-led coalition. The BJP
These amount to, perhaps, the make up 58 per cent of the volume. Continued at next page... >>

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