Israeli Defence Minister to visit India
The trip was initially meant to take place in late March, but Gantz delayed it amid a series of deadly terror attacks on Israel and the West Bank, that have left 19 people dead since March 22.
New Delhi/Tel Aviv: Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz arrives in India today on a visit that will see him hold talks with Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and the two sides will also sign a “special security declaration” marking 30 years of security and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The trip was initially meant to take place in late March, but Gantz delayed it amid a series of deadly terror attacks on Israel and the West Bank, that have left 19 people dead since March 22.
His office said he will meet and sign the document with his counterpart, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Times of Israel said.
The declaration is expected to be largely ceremonial. However, the original meeting in March was scheduled to also include talks on improving security relations between the countries.
Israel has sought to tighten defense ties with New Delhi in recent years, especially in the fields of air and missile defense.
India is one of the largest customers of Israeli weapons systems, purchasing billions of dollars worth of equipment in recent years and embarking on several joint projects with Israeli companies.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is also scheduled to visit India — marking 30 years of full diplomatic relations. He was due to visit in March, but the trip was postponed after he contracted Covid-19. He has yet to announce a new date.
Though New Delhi recognized Israel in 1950, full diplomatic relations were established in 1992.
Under the leadership of former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, ties blossomed between India and Israel, culminating in the late prime minister Ariel Sharon’s 2003 visit to the country, the first by an Israeli premier.
Defense, economic and diplomatic bilateral ties continued to grow in recent years, and Narendra Modi became the first Indian premier to visit Israel in 2017.
During a trip to Israel last year, where he extended the invitation to Bennett to visit, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar lauded the business relationship between his country and Israel, saying at a meeting with CEOs and government officials that India regards Israel “in many ways as perhaps our most trusted and innovative partner.”
