Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has arrived in India for a three-day visit, aiming to bolster ties and promote trade between the two countries. The visit was scheduled to conclude with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Defense Minister S Jaishankar and the inauguration of the Jews Trail (Jewish Memorial) in Mumbai. However, his plan did not succeed, and Cohen is going to return after meeting PM Modi today itself. In fact, after getting security updates related to his country, he will now return after finishing his three-day tour of India.
During his visit, Cohen is expected to discuss a range of issues with his Indian counterparts, including strengthening bilateral trade relations, enhancing security cooperation, and exploring new areas of cooperation in areas such as agriculture, water management, and renewable energy. Cohen has expressed his interest in raising the issue of a Free Trade Agreement between Israel and India with PM Modi during his visit.
The Israel-India relationship has come a long way since diplomatic relations were established in 1992. Today, Israel is India’s third-largest supplier of arms and ammunition, while India is Israel’s largest buyer of defense equipment. The two countries have been working closely together on a range of issues, including counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and space cooperation.
Cohen’s visit comes at a time when both India and Israel are facing increasing threats to their national security. India is grappling with a rising wave of terrorism, while Israel is dealing with the threat of rocket attacks from Gaza and tensions with Iran. Both countries are looking to strengthen their defense ties and explore new areas of cooperation to counter these threats.
At the CII India-Israel Business Forum in Delhi, Cohen highlighted the importance of the relationship between the two countries and the potential for further cooperation in a range of areas. He praised India’s economic growth and highlighted the importance of strengthening trade ties between the two countries. “We have a lot of potential to explore in areas such as water management, agriculture, and renewable energy,” he said. “We need to work together to realize this potential and take our partnership to new heights.”
In addition to his official meetings, Cohen also visited the Chabad House in Mumbai, which was attacked by terrorists in 2008, killing six people, including the Rabbi and his wife. The Chabad House has since been rebuilt and serves as a center for Jewish life and learning in Mumbai. During his visit, Cohen paid his respects to the victims of the attack and highlighted the importance of religious tolerance and harmony.
Overall, Cohen’s visit is a significant step forward in strengthening the Israel-India relationship and promoting cooperation in a range of areas. With both countries facing increasing security threats, the visit provides an opportunity to explore new areas of cooperation and deepen existing ties. It is clear that both countries have much to gain from working together, and the visit marks a positive step in that direction.
