Cementing India-Israel ties

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s critical visit to India is a landmark event for both countries to align their strategic aims, keeping in mind their economic interests

The very fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chose to spend a week in India shows the growing depth in ties between India and Israel, 25 years after they were established. In contemporary affairs, trips exceeding three days by heads of Government are very rare.

It is to the credit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that this important bilateral has now come into full open view having cast away the opaqueness that characterised it for decades. Prime Minsiter Modi has jettisoned the perceived concerns of how the domestic Muslim population and the Arab world would view the relationship. This is a part of being a nuclear power with a two trillion dollar economy, India now has a more confident world view. As the country adjusts its interest, it signals the world to deal with that adjustment.

The India-Israel relations rest on a strategic tripod.

Weapons supply: The first is political and strategic mutuality of interests. Both countries have hostile neighbours; face systemic threats to their way of life from Islamic terror; and share an old history of cultural exchanges. The extension of this deeply shared strategic relationship is Indian purchase of weapons and weapons systems from Israel. India buys about half of all the weapons that Israel exports. India has inked two very important weapon system purchases.

The supersonic barak 8 missile system, which is an order worth about $2.5 billion, will arm almost all frontline Indian Navy ships, including the air craft carrier INS Vikramaditya. This is considered to be the most advanced surface to air missiles in the world designed to be used as a ship-borne anti-missile defence system against anti-ship missiles with an enhanced range of 90 kilometers. India is also procuring 10 Heron TP drones in their new armed export versions that will be most likely bought with weapons on board. This deal will add surveillance and attack capacity to the Indian Air Force. The drones are important because they take away the human risk from both routine surveillance and likely combat. With an ability to hover unrefueled for up to 30 hours, they give unmatched flexibility.  Their all-weather day night ability and mission payload of up to 1,000 kilos enhances potency in both war and counter insurgency operations.  In addition, India has a fleet of 68 Harpy and 108 searchers drones also from Israel. Most are used to neutralise tactical targets, such as radar sites of anti aircraft nests aside from reconnaissance.

The one issue with the Herons in particular and Israeli weapons in general is the cost. Each heron with life cycle costs comes in at a staggering $40 million. While it has not been said officially, the main reason why the $500 million Spike missile deal was canceled was that although 30 per cent lighter and with a more potent warhead and a slightly longer range than the Indian Nag missile or its advance under development version — the cost of the Israeli system is 300 per cent higher. It is understood that the Prime Minister Modi has taken the issue of cost personally with Prime Minister Netanyahu. India is looking to deepen the ‘Made in India’ component but lacks a robust ecosystem and intellectual property protection to absorb more defence technology. Though some tentative steps have made progress, like a joint venture between Kalyani group and Rafael in defence.

Spy plus Spy: The second pole of this tripod is what you do not see in summit meetings or the media. A deep level of intelligence sharing, which was referred to by Netanyahu passingly in his official address. This pertains to intelligence sharing and counter-terror espionage and training. India and Israel have upgraded to trusting each other's intelligence agencies in a deeper and more engaged manner. This engagement includes new technology and gadgets, such as surveillance equipment but also human intelligence and a multi-layer communication channel. The challenge is to develop joint ness in operations and greater international cooperation.

The Suits say Shalom: The third and probably the latest stand on which the India Israel relationship stands is business. India and Israel do more than four billion dollar in trade mostly the balance favors Israel.  In agriculture, where Tel Aviv has superior drip irrigation and farm support technology and technology startups, of which Israel is a world master, both countries have found new avenues of growth.

Centers of development and clusters are in place for growth to happen at the next level. While Israel has technology, India has a vast market. It is here that the 130 strong business delegation and the long stay of the Israeli Prime minister matters. This is the hard negotiations part of the visit. Both nations want to align their strategic interests with their business possibilities. The next time Prime Minister Modi visits Israel don't be surprised if a free trade agreement is on the menu.

Until then, this critical visit of an Israeli Prime Minister after 15 years, is a big building block between the two ancient cultures. 

(The writer is a senior journalist)