Jerusalem/New Delhi: In a significant display of diplomatic continuity, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a telephonic conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (January 7).
The Message
Netanyahu, taking to social media platform X, thanked “my friend, Prime Minister Modi” for the warm conversation. The official readout highlighted two primary pillars of the discussion:
- Partnership: Israel’s deep valuation of its strategic ties with New Delhi.
- Security: A “shared determination to defeat terrorism,” underscoring the defense cooperation that forms the bedrock of the relationship.
Future Engagement
Netanyahu explicitly stated he looks forward to meeting the Indian Prime Minister in the “near future,” suggesting a high-level state visit could be on the cards for 2026.
Why this matters now
The timing of this call is geopolitically relevant. It comes in the same week that US President Donald Trump made controversial remarks regarding PM Modi and withdrew the US from the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA). While the US signals a transactional and isolationist approach, the call from Israel reinforces the stability of India’s alternative strategic partnerships in West Asia.
