Netanyahu to lead trade task force to India
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will take 130 businessmen with him to India for trade talks which will also cover defence sales, a senior Israeli official said on 10 January.
Gilad Cohen, Israel’s foreign ministry deputy director general for Asia, said the six-day trip starting on 14 January was meant to further deepen political, trade and cultural ties.
India's defence ministry recently announced that it would buy 131 surface-to-air missiles from Israel. The Barak missiles made by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems are to be used for India's first aircraft carrier which is under construction.
But at the same time, Rafael said India had cancelled a separate $500 million deal to purchase Spike anti-tank guided missiles.
Rafael executives are said to be in the trade delegation accompanying Netanyahu.
Gilad Cohen said: ‘The prime minister will be talking (to his hosts) on the whole range of issues which make up relations between Israel and India: water, agriculture, energy, culture, innovation, also defence.’
Israel is a major weapons supplier to India, selling it an average of $1 billion of military equipment each year.
In April 2017, the two countries signed a military deal worth nearly $2 billion which includes the supply over several years of medium-range surface-to-air missiles, launchers and communications technology.
Netanyahu's India trip comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel in July 2017, the first ever by an Indian premier.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![US lawmakers warn that “more military spending is absolutely necessary” to ensure Pentagon’s readiness]()
US lawmakers warn that “more military spending is absolutely necessary” to ensure Pentagon’s readiness
The US Congress has raised concerns about how inflation rates and cuts in main acquisition programmes could affect the US military.
-
![Can the US overcome Russian and Chinese nuclear capabilities?]()
Can the US overcome Russian and Chinese nuclear capabilities?
Washington’s ageing inventory and the pace Moscow and Beijing have been modernising their capabilities put in check the US Nuclear deterrence.
-
![US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap]()
US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap
The Pentagon has been operating under temporary funding since October 2023, which has impacted its main acquisition and development programmes, increasing the capability gap between the US and China.
-
![NATO outlines future challenges as Ukrainian funding from US stalls]()
NATO outlines future challenges as Ukrainian funding from US stalls
In 2023, defence spending increased by an unprecedented 11% across European NATO countries and Canada. Since 2014, the group has spent an additional US$600 billion on defence.
-
![US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025]()
US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025
The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.
