Defence cooperation remains one of the most significant pillars of the India-Israel strategic partnership, underpinned by regular dialogue, joint exercises and technology collaboration.
Institutional mechanisms such as the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation provide structured engagement between the two sides. The 17th JWG meeting was held in Tel Aviv on November 4, 2025, co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary and Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defence. An MoU on Defence Cooperation was signed during the visit, further consolidating bilateral defence ties.
Operational cooperation has included goodwill port calls and joint exercises. Indian naval ships from the Western Fleet visited Haifa in May 2017, while INS Tarangini docked there in September 2018. The Indian Air Force participated in the multilateral Blue Flag exercise in Israel in October 2021.
High-level defence exchanges have also intensified in recent years. India’s Defence Minister held talks with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in March 2023 – the first such interaction between the two defence ministers. Senior Israeli defence officials, including the Director General of the Ministry of Defence, visited India in 2025.
Beyond traditional defence engagement, cooperation increasingly spans cybersecurity, export controls and emerging technologies. The second India–Israel Export Control Dialogue was held in Tel Aviv in October 2025, and the first Cyber Policy Dialogue took place in Jerusalem in March 2025.
As both nations navigate evolving regional security challenges, defence collaboration continues to serve as a cornerstone of the India-Israel partnership, reflecting mutual trust and shared strategic interests.
