Strengthening bilateral ties through trade deals and strategic peace dialogues.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is currently on a significant diplomatic tour of Israel, focusing on bolstering the economic and strategic bonds between New Delhi and Jerusalem. The visit has been marked by high-level engagements aimed at accelerating trade partnerships and discussing regional stability.
One of the central pillars of the S Jaishankar Israel visit was a pivotal meeting with Nir Barkat, Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry. The discussions largely revolved around fostering innovation and expanding investment opportunities. Taking to social media platform X, Jaishankar shared his optimism regarding the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He emphasized that both nations are keen on concluding the agreement soon, which is expected to act as a catalyst for a stronger economic partnership.
Minister Barkat echoed these sentiments, noting that the upcoming framework agreement is designed to dismantle current trade barriers. He highlighted that the deal would unlock a massive market for Israeli exporters, signifying a new era of commercial cooperation.
beyond economics, the diplomatic engagement also touched upon crucial geopolitical issues. Jaishankar met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog to discuss the trajectory of the India-Israel strategic partnership. During this interaction, the External Affairs Minister conveyed warm regards from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. A key topic of their conversation was the urgent need for lasting peace in the region, with Jaishankar reaffirming India’s consistent support for stability.
President Herzog described the meeting as an opportunity to widen the scope of cooperation between the two nations. He specifically pointed to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a vital vision for broadening regional connectivity and collaboration.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the agenda for Jaishankar’s trip also includes bilateral consultations with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, to further align the foreign policy objectives of both countries.
