Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tel Aviv for a two-day official visit.
Modi was welcomed with an official ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu.
Netanyahu was seen greeting his Indian counterpart as he stepped off the plane, saying, “Welcome, my friend. It’s wonderful to have you here. We have much to discuss.”
The two leaders are expected to hold a closed-door meeting at Ben Gurion Airport before heading to West Jerusalem. Modi is scheduled to address the Israeli parliament and attend an innovation summit.
Netanyahu is expected to discuss cooperation with Modi—who last visited Israel in 2017—in areas such as defense, high technology, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies.
Modi Expressed Support for Netanyahu
The visit is also expected to include discussions on plans, previously voiced by Netanyahu, to establish a new “axis of alliance” against what he described as adversaries in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
Ahead of the visit, Modi had expressed support for Netanyahu’s call for forming a new alliance axis.
In a post on his X account, Modi said, “I completely agree with you regarding the bond between India and Israel and the multifaceted nature of our bilateral relations.”
Speaking before a cabinet meeting on February 22, Netanyahu said the proposed new alliance would include India, several Arab and African countries, as well as Greece, the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, and certain Asian countries.
Netanyahu added that further details of the planned alliance axis would be announced in the coming days.