New Delhi [India], November 4 (ANI): India and Israel discussed potential areas for future collaboration in technology and enhancing operational capabilities at the 17th meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation, co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Maj Gen (Res) Amir Baram.
The meeting, held in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, also focused on shared challenges such as terrorism and reaffirmed the collective resolve to combat the threat.
An MoU on Defence Cooperation was signed during the meeting to provide a unified vision and policy direction to deepen the already strong defense partnership between the two countries.
According to a Defence Ministry release, the MoU will facilitate the sharing of advanced technologies and promote co-development and co-production. A wide range of areas for cooperation have been identified, including strategic dialogues, training, defense industrial collaboration, Science and Technology, Research and Development, Technological Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber Security.
The JWG reviewed ongoing defense cooperation initiatives and agreed that both nations have benefited from each other’s strengths. “The two sides discussed potential areas for future collaboration in the field of technology as well as enhancing operational capabilities. They also deliberated on various issues, including shared challenges of terrorism and underscored their collective resolve to fight against the threat,” the release said.
The Defence Ministry noted that the India-Israel defense partnership is long-standing, built on deep mutual trust and shared security interests.
The meeting coincided with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s visit to India. Saar met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday. In his opening remarks during the meeting, Jaishankar said that India and Israel share a strategic partnership.
“We have stood together in testing times. And we have created a relationship with a high degree of trust and reliability. Our two nations face a particular challenge from terrorism. It is essential that we work towards ensuring a global approach of zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he said.
In September this year, India and Israel signed a Bilateral Investment Agreement, expected to boost bilateral investments, which currently total around USD 800 million, benefiting businesses and economies in both countries. (ANI)
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