What happened
On November 5, 2025, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz in Tel Aviv and co-chaired the 17th Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation with Maj Gen (Res) Amir Baram. Both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation to guide future collaboration in strategic dialogue, defence industry, training, and technology. The MoU focuses on co-development in artificial intelligence, cyber security, and advanced defence systems, reaffirming both nations’ shared commitment to combating terrorism and enhancing operational capabilities.
Why it matters to India
The agreement marks a major step in expanding India’s strategic partnership with Israel, one of its key defence and technology partners. Enhanced cooperation will boost India’s defence innovation and self-reliance goals under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, while deepening collaboration in emerging technologies and counter-terrorism aligns with India’s broader security and regional stability objectives.