India and Israel share a multifaceted strategic partnership that has evolved significantly since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992. Below is a comprehensive overview of their relationship, covering historical context, key areas of cooperation, and current dynamics:

• Early Years: India recognized Israel in 1950 but maintained a cautious stance due to its commitment to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), solidarity with the Palestinian cause, and ties with Arab nations. Influenced by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, who viewed the Palestinian struggle through an anti-colonial lens, India voted against the 1947 UN Partition Plan for Palestine and delayed full diplomatic ties with Israel.
• Cold War Dynamics: India's alignment with the Soviet bloc and its dependence on Arab states for oil and support on the Kashmir issue limited open engagement with Israel. However, covert cooperation, including intelligence sharing and limited military support, began in the 1960s and 1970s, notably during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Post-Cold War Shift: The collapse of the Soviet Union and the 1993 Oslo Accords provided India the geopolitical space to normalize relations with Israel in 1992, marking a turning point toward open collaboration.

A critical analysis of India-Israel relations reveals a complex interplay of strategic pragmatism, ideological alignment, and geopolitical balancing, with significant achievements but also notable challenges and contradictions. Below, I evaluate the relationship by examining its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, while critically assessing the underlying motivations, implications, and potential risks.

Strengths of India-Israel Relations

1. Strategic Defense Partnership:
   • Strength: Israel's role as a reliable supplier of advanced weaponry (e.g., Barak 8, Heron drones) has bolstered India's defense capabilities, particularly against Pakistan and China. Joint counter-terrorism efforts and intelligence sharing (RAW-Mossad) have strengthened India's security architecture.
   • Critical Perspective: The defense partnership aligns with India's goal of reducing reliance on Russia and achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat). However, over-dependence on Israeli technology risks vulnerabilities if geopolitical alignments shift or if Israel faces supply chain disruptions.
2. Economic and Technological Synergy:
   • Strength: Bilateral trade ($6.53 billion in 2023-24, excluding defense) and Israeli investments ($3 billion) in high-tech sectors like AI and agriculture (e.g., Indo-Israel Agricultural Project) enhance India's economic modernization.
   • Critical Perspective: The focus on diamonds and petroleum limits diversification, and the slow progress on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) suggests bureaucratic hurdles or strategic hesitancy. Moreover, Israel's technological edge (e.g., Pegasus spyware) raises ethical concerns about privacy and sovereignty in India.
3. Ideological Convergence:
   • Strength: Under the BJP government, Hindu nationalist (Hindutva) ideology finds common ground with Israel's ethno-nationalist policies, fostering political goodwill and high-level engagements (e.g., Modi's 2017 visit).
   • Critical Perspective: This alignment risks alienating India's secular traditions and its 200-million-strong Muslim population, potentially fueling domestic polarization. It also ties India's foreign policy to Israel's controversial actions, such as settlement expansion, which complicates India's global image.

Weaknesses

1. Limited People-to-People Engagement:
   • Despite historical Jewish ties in India, cultural exchanges remain limited compared to India's ties with the US or Gulf states. Only 40,000 Indian tourists visited Israel in 2023, and educational exchanges (900 students) are modest.
   • Critique: The lack of robust grassroots connections restricts the relationship's resilience, making it heavily reliant on state-driven initiatives. This top-down approach may falter if political priorities shift.
2. Geopolitical Balancing Act:
   • India's support for a two-state solution and ties with Palestine, Iran, and Arab states create a delicate balancing act. For instance, India's Chabahar Port project with Iran directly conflicts with Israel's regional security concerns.
   • Critique: India's equivocal stance on the Palestinian issue, especially post-2023 Gaza conflict, risks being perceived as opportunistic. While India condemned Hamas's terrorism, its muted response to civilian casualties in Gaza has drawn criticism from the Global South, undermining its leadership aspirations.
3. Domestic Political Risks:
   • The BJP's pro-Israel stance, coupled with business ties like the Adani Group's acquisition of Haifa Port, has sparked accusations of cronyism and complicity in Israel's regional policies.
   • Critique: Aligning closely with Israel could inflame domestic tensions, particularly among opposition parties and Muslim communities, who view it as a departure from India's anti-colonial legacy and solidarity with Palestine.

1. Defense Co-Production and Innovation:
   • The India-Israel Industrial R&D Fund (I4F) and joint ventures in drones and missile systems offer opportunities for India to co-develop cutting-edge technologies, aligning with its "Make in India" initiative.
   • Potential: Expanding co-production could reduce costs and enhance India's defense exports, positioning it as a regional power.
2. Regional Frameworks like I2U2 and IMEEC:
   • The I2U2 group (India, Israel, UAE, US) and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) provide platforms for India to leverage Israel's technological expertise while strengthening ties with Arab states.
   • Potential: These frameworks could position India as a bridge between West Asia and the West, enhancing its geopolitical influence.
3. Agricultural and Climate Tech:
   • The 35 Centers of Excellence and Israel's drip irrigation expertise can address India's agricultural inefficiencies and water scarcity, critical for food security in a climate-stressed world.
   • Potential: Scaling these initiatives could transform rural India and position it as a model for the Global South.

1. Regional Instability:
   • The Israel-Iran rivalry and ongoing conflicts (e.g., Gaza 2023-24) threaten to destabilize India's West Asian partnerships. India's reliance on Gulf oil and remittances (from 8 million Indian workers) could be jeopardized if it is seen as overly pro-Israel.
   • Critique: India's failure to strongly condemn Israel's actions in Gaza risks alienating Arab partners, who wield significant economic leverage. The decline in trade (from $10.77 billion in 2022-23 to $6.53 billion in 2023-24) reflects these tensions.
2. Global South Backlash:
   • India's growing alignment with Israel, a key US ally, may undermine its credibility as a voice for the Global South, especially given Israel's controversial human rights record.
   • Critique: By prioritizing strategic gains over ideological consistency, India risks losing moral authority in forums like the UN, where it has historically championed anti-colonial causes.
3. Ethical and Technological Risks:
   • The Pegasus spyware controversy and Israel's cybersecurity exports raise questions about surveillance overreach in India, potentially violating democratic norms.
   • Critique: India's adoption of Israeli tech without robust oversight could erode public trust and invite international scrutiny, particularly from human rights organizations.

India-Israel relations exemplify pragmatic realpolitik, driven by shared security threats, economic ambitions, and ideological affinities under the current BJP government. The partnership has yielded tangible benefits-enhanced defense capabilities, agricultural innovation, and economic growth-but it is not without costs. India's alignment with Israel risks straining ties with Arab states, Iran, and its own Muslim population, while its muted stance on Palestine undermines its historical anti-colonial credentials. The relationship's heavy reliance on state-driven initiatives and lack of deep cultural ties make it vulnerable to political shifts.

From a realist perspective, the partnership strengthens India's strategic autonomy and counters regional rivals, but a constructivist lens highlights the erosion of India's normative leadership in the Global South. The ideological convergence between Hindutva and Israeli nationalism, while politically expedient, risks long-term domestic and international backlash. India's balancing act-supporting Palestine rhetorically while deepening ties with Israel-reflects diplomatic dexterity but also exposes inconsistencies that could be exploited by critics.

Conclusion

India-Israel relations are a strategic success story, rooted in mutual interests and pragmatic cooperation, but they require careful navigation to avoid geopolitical and domestic pitfalls. To maximize benefits, India should diversify economic ties beyond diamonds, accelerate the FTA, and invest in people-to-people connections to build a more resilient partnership. Simultaneously, it must maintain a principled stance on Palestine and strengthen ties with Arab states to preserve its regional influence. Failure to address these tensions could undermine India's broader foreign policy objectives and its aspirations as a global power.