Townhall Times, New Delhi
Reporter: Bhavika Kalra
By: Global Strategy Desk | New Delhi
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
As Air India One prepares for takeoff tonight, the narrative surrounding PM Modi’s two-day dash to Israel (Feb 25–26) is shifting. While the official press releases talk about “shared democratic values,” the actual agenda in the folders of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is far more clinical.
In 2026, India isn’t just a customer buying Heron drones; it is a global player looking to secure the “brain” of its future infrastructure.
1. The Knesset Address: A Geopolitical Tightrope
The centerpiece of the trip is the address to the Knesset on Thursday. But don’t expect just platitudes.
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The IMEC Anchor: With the Red Sea remaining a high-risk zone due to persistent regional instability, India needs the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) to be more than just a map. Modi is expected to push for the Haifa port to become the primary gateway for Indian goods into Europe.
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The Counter-Terrorism Alignment: Expect a very sharp, unified stance on “state-sponsored” cyber-terrorism. This is a direct signal to regional actors that India and Israel are now synchronizing their digital intelligence.
2. The ‘Deep Tech’ Procurement List
The defense deals being discussed this week aren’t about buying hardware; they are about stealing a march on AI and Semiconductors.
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Sovereign AI: India wants to build its own Large Language Models (LLMs) that aren’t tethered to Silicon Valley. A joint “India-Israel AI Research Fund” is expected to be announced, focusing on localized AI for agriculture and healthcare.
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Sub-Surface Warfare: With increasing naval friction in the Indian Ocean, India is eyeing Israeli Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and advanced sonar arrays. This is about making the Indian Navy “invisible” to sonar detection.
3. The Semiconductor ‘Bridge’
Israel’s strength in Fabless Chip Design is the missing puzzle piece for India’s semiconductor mission in Gujarat.
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The Goal: To move beyond assembly and into design. Modi is scheduled to meet the CEOs of Israel’s top five tech firms to finalize a “Talent Bridge” where 5,000 Indian engineers will be trained in Israeli labs over the next three years.
The agenda: February 25–26, 2026
| Timeframe | Location | The Real Objective |
| Wednesday Morning | Tel Aviv | One-on-one with the Israeli PM; Focus on the IMEC Trade Corridor. |
| Wednesday Evening | Defense HQ | Finalizing the Drone Swarm manufacturing deal for the Indian Army. |
| Thursday Morning | Jerusalem | Knesset Address; Setting the 10-year strategic roadmap. |
| Thursday Afternoon | Cyber City | Launch of the Joint Cybersecurity Command Center for Bengaluru. |
4. The Water Diplomacy (The Domestic Angle)
While the world watches the missiles, the real “vote-getter” for the 2026-27 state elections is the Desalination and Micro-Irrigation tech. India wants to replicate Israel’s success in turning the Thar Desert green. Expect a massive MoU on “Smart Water Grids” for Rajasthan and Haryana.
The Bottom Line
This visit is about De-hyphenation. India is signaling that its relationship with Israel is independent of its ties with the Arab world or Iran. In the 2026 global order, India is looking for a partner that can provide the “high-end” sensors and chips that others are hesitant to share.
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