Nobody quite expected the evening to start with a wardrobe surprise. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Israel on February 25, Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t just show up for dinner, he showed up wearing a Nehru jacket. Not a passing resemblance but a real thing. The internet reacted exactly the way the it does, in equal parts of amusement, approval, and argument.
Netanyahu posted a video on X, writing in Hindi that he had chosen Indian attire as a gesture before their dinner. Modi responded quickly, calling it “truly splendid” and saying it reflected respect for India’s culture and traditions. It was warm. It was symbolic. And it was very deliberate. But the evening wasn’t just about collars and compliments. Behind the optics was something far more substantial.
India and Israel announced plans to upgrade their relationship to what they are calling a “special strategic partnership”, and that phrase carries weight. The two countries only established full diplomatic ties in 1992. In historical terms, that is not long ago. And yet here they are, discussing deeper cooperation across defence, science and technology, agriculture, water management, trade, and cultural exchanges.
The biggest headline came from defence. Israel reportedly offered to transfer Iron Dome technology to India under the Make in India framework. If it materializes, it would feed directly into India’s Mission Sudarshan Chakra, aimed at countering rockets, drones, and mortar threats. There are also ongoing conversations around artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and quantum computing. This is not just ceremonial diplomacy but also a strategic alignment. Netanyahu described the partnership as reaching new heights, from artificial intelligence to regional cooperation. India’s ambassador to Israel, JP Singh, put it more simply, saying the two countries do not compete but complement one another.
Still, not everyone is celebrating. Back home, critics have questioned the timing. The International Criminal Court warrant against Netanyahu and India’s recent vote against Israeli settlement expansion complicate the optics. Not everyone is applauding. The relationship, though, appears to be moving full steam ahead.
