Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening received a telephone call from his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the two leaders reviewed progress in the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership and exchanged views on the evolving situation in West Asia.
Confirming the conversation, PM Modi posted on X that he had reviewed progress on various aspects of the partnership, which he said “continues to grow from strength-to-strength,” and that the two leaders had also exchanged views on the current situation in West Asia.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders “reviewed sustained progress in India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the bilateral cooperation across various sectors for the mutual benefit of the two countries.” The PMO added that the two sides agreed to remain in touch.
The call comes against the backdrop of continuing instability in West Asia, where the conflict has persisted for more than five months without a lasting resolution. Earlier on Thursday, Iran said it was in the final stages of drafting an agreement with Oman concerning the future of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints for global trade and energy supplies. Separately, Israel reported that two of its soldiers were killed during operations in Lebanon.
Thursday’s conversation follows the two leaders’ previous discussion in March and comes amid deepening bilateral engagement, including ongoing free trade agreement negotiations between the two countries. Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar had earlier described the “amazing trajectory” of India-Israel relations despite the regional conflict, pointing to expanding cooperation in defence, infrastructure, finance and trade over the past three years.
The India-Israel partnership spans defence, agriculture, innovation, technology, water management, cybersecurity and trade. PM Modi undertook a state visit to Israel in February, during which the two countries elevated their ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity.”
Thursday’s call marks the latest in a series of regular exchanges between the two leaders as the situation in West Asia continues to draw global diplomatic attention.
— dailyArchives