Indo-Israeli Relations: Deepening Ties
Broadly speaking, the story of India-Israel ties can be segmented into three phases. The first was when India recognised the state of Israel when it got its independence. However, even though it allowed Israel to open an office in India, it did not offer it diplomatic status.
The second phase began when diplomatic ties were established. Trade between the two countries began growing.
The third phase began yesterday, when Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister to set foot on Israel’s soil – even though many Israeli prime minister have travelled to India during the past few decades.
“This is a historic visit,” says David Akov, consul general, Israeli consulate, Mumbai. It is slated to become the springboard for many more advances in relationships between India and Israel…”
The timing of this visit could not be lost by any student of development in the Asia-Pacific theatre. The China –Pakistan-Taliban link comes out in the open. Russia appears to be a bit ambivalent. Thus, India’s affinity towards the US-Israel axis is bound to increase every passing day. In fact, India is moving openly towards realpolitik where it seeks alignment with like-minded countries that can help neutralise its adversaries and the relationship with Israelis are a pillar in this strategy.
But this has not happened in a day, it is the result of mutual trust built over years of standing for each other in time of need. It comes as a logical culmination of faith that has been built over years and has stood the face of time. As far as India is concerned it is a gradual calibrated shift in view of the harsh realities that India faces. To say it bluntly, reality has replaced idealism in India’s foreign policy. It is now realised that the cooperation between the two countries is very important and strategic for both.
When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Israel on July 4, for a historic first visit of a government leader from the subcontinent, he does so against a background of booming business ties between the two countries, particularly in the field of defence. It is expected that PM Modi's Israel trip, besides strengthening ties on the defence, agriculture and medical fronts, should lead to enhanced cultural exchanges between the two countries. The Modi visit signals an opening to a more strategic partnership, with cooperation growing on a range of other issues which is outside the field of defence. Yet, the huge arms deals of earlier this year show that defence remains a vitally important component of the relationship. The sales concern of missile air-defence systems, is an area on which the countries have long cooperated. The vast bulk of these contracts are with IAI, with another considerable chunk going to Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Apart from the missile systems, IAI also sells drones and other equipment to India.
Total trade between the two countries was close to USD 4.2 billion in 2016. It's a far cry from the USD 200 million, mainly diamonds in 1992, when the two countries formally established relations amidst IsraeliPalestinian peace moves.
Israel has in recent years become an important defence supplier for India. The two countries signed an air and missile defence deal worth almost USD 2 billion in April, in what Israel termed the ‘largest defence contract deal’ in its history. As India seeks to modernise and grow its defence capabilities, it could find an able ally in Israel. The two countries see themselves as bulwarks of democracy in a region rife with totalitarian leaders and regimes.
The Next Level…
There is also an expectation that is the visit will lead to increased student exchange programmes to enable the younger generation to ‘learn about the cultures and teachings in both the countries’ and also an improved ‘people to people contact’ between the two countries.
Most analysts believe that the next major developments will relate to agriculture, water, security (anti-terrorism, securing the country’s borders, homeland security and cyber-security), and innovation. A lot of work has already been done in fields relating to water and agriculture, but the work to be done is much bigger than what has been achieved so far.
Engaging with the Indian Diaspora
Engaging with the Indian Diaspora is another pillar of Modi's diplomatic journey. The 80,000 Indian Jews belonging to four different communities -Bene Israel, Cochinis, Baghdadis and Bnei Menashe -- who live in Israel maintain some of the cultural practices of India and can be a bridge between India and Israel.
The relationship is therefore focusing increasingly on the civilian side. The Israeli cabinet this week approved a series of measures and a 280 million shekel (USD 80 million) budget for joint research and development mainly in water and agricultural technology programs. It also talked about increasing exports by 25 per cent and luring more Indian tourists and even Bollywood producers to Israel, but that is a small change compared to the technology relationship. Technology, in fact, is the basis of the beautiful Indo-Israeli friendship.
Although India is behind in China in terms of its global aspiration, but Modi is a free-market and tech-friendly leader as much as he is a nationalist who wants to see India become a world economic superpower. It is one of the world’s largest economies, but that is because it has a population of 1.3 billion, not because Indian products and services make a big splash in the global markets. Even its vaunted high-tech sector is centred on outsourcing to foreign companies; PM Modi recognises that Israel can help change that.
India looks at the Jewish state as a valuable partner because of the technology and innovation it can provide. And that is part of a larger phenomenon of brainpower that is emerging as an important asset in the world power politics, taking its place beside naked armed force, economics and the soft power of culture and values.
The Silver Jubilee…
In celebration of the silver jubilee of the diplomatic ties, both countries are planning a series of events. The plan to establish a programme under India's Global Initiative of Academic Networks is one such initiative. India has already dispatched a professor to teach in Israel. Both countries have decided at the highest level to create a joint coordination committee to plan out the activities. The exchange of business delegations is expected to be the next step.
The Indian PM is expected to address the Knesset, Israel's unicameral parliament with 120 members. He is also expected to visit an innovation park, with the Advanced Technologies Park at Ben Gurion University being one of the possible options. Top innovators from both sides are expected to showcase their products when he visits the hightech park.
Given the importance both nations attach to the other, a bilateral joint statement covering issues pertaining to water management, defence, diamonds, counter-terrorism, agriculture and others could be expected.
At the same time, defence deals are also likely to assume centre stage. It is to be noted that several high-profile visits -- including by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, several senior secretaries and a Minister of State for Agriculture S S Ahluwalia-led 11 member multi-party parliamentary delegation -- have taken place before Modi's visit. Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba travelled on a five-day visit to Israel from June 11.
All these visits have laid the ground work for several MoUs that are likely to be inked during Modi's visit. A raft of mega defence deals, which includes procurement of an air defence system for the Indian Navy, is likely.
There are high hopes that the much-awaited deal for Barak-8 air defence missile systems for the navy and procurement of Spike anti-tank missiles for the army will be firmed up during Modi's visit. Besides other defence-related deals on the table, Ambassador Carmon expressed optimism that bilateral ties would move beyond buying and selling and the focus would shift towards joint research and development. As a start, two multi-billion dollar acquisition deals are expected to be finalised. Neither side is willing to discuss these deals. But it must be noted that, in February 2017, India had cleared Rs 17,000 crore deal for jointly developing with Israel a medium-range surface-toair missile (MR-SAM) for the army. A formal announcement is expected during Modi's visit.
Previous governments in India had reservations about working with Israel but PM Modi has shed this tag as he believes that disengaging itself from its traditional and ideological foreign policy approach in the Middle-East shall serve India's longterm interests.
In other words, expect the defence deals to grow bigger. But also expect huge strides in water, agriculture, security and innovation. ”L’chaiam” -- as the Israelis love to toast!