New Delhi— Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar will embark on a two-day official visit to India from November 4 to 5 to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss key regional and global developments. During his visit, Sa’ar will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, among other senior Indian officials, according to sources in Israel.
The visit comes amid continuing regional unrest but reflects the growing momentum in India-Israel ties. Over the past two years, several top Israeli ministers — including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Economy Minister Nir Barkat, Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, and Tourism Minister Haim Katz — have visited India, underscoring the deepening engagement between the two nations.
During Smotrich’s visit in September, India and Israel signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to enhance economic and financial cooperation. The agreement aims to provide stronger investor protection, ensure fair treatment and non-discrimination, and establish an independent arbitration mechanism for dispute resolution. It also includes provisions for protection from expropriation, transparency in governance, and compensation for losses.
Since 2000, Israel has signed BITs with more than 15 countries, including the UAE, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and South Africa. The treaty with India is seen as a major step forward in fortifying mutual economic confidence and long-term collaboration.
In February, Economy Minister Nir Barkat visited India with a large economic delegation, further advancing trade and technology partnerships. Israel has also sought India’s assistance in addressing its acute labor shortage across various sectors. Nearly 40,000 Indian workers are currently employed in Israel, with several thousand more expected to join soon under new agreements.
Foreign Ministers Sa’ar and Jaishankar last met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in February, where they discussed U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to link Asia, Europe, and America through Israel — a vision that aligns with India’s connectivity goals. The leaders also addressed security threats to maritime trade routes from Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iran.
Notably, during the 2023 G20 Summit, India and its partners announced a landmark initiative to build a transport and energy corridor connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as “the largest cooperation project in our history,” predicting it would “change the face of the Middle East and the world.” Former U.S. President Trump later expressed interest in expanding the project to include direct links to the United States.
Sa’ar’s upcoming visit is expected to further consolidate the India-Israel partnership in trade, technology, and strategic affairs amid shared global and regional priorities.
