Israel, reacting to the usual condemnations from its supposed European allies, is understandably seeking assurance that its armed forces will have, in any future military crisis, an uninterrupted supply of critical weapons, spare parts and ammunition.
As some European states that were arms suppliers to Israel, such as Germany, have embargoed the delivery of weaponry, India seems to be a prime candidate to satisfy Israel's ongoing needs.
India, a Hindu-majority country, is, like Israel, a democracy bordered by authoritarian states. India, like Israel, is exposed daily to internal and external threats, with the neighboring Islamic Republic of Pakistan seeking India's destruction.
Israel and India are both multiethnic, politically pluralistic societies. Both countries are threatened by a large minority of residents who do not share the democratic values of the majority, and both were recently reminded of this vulnerability when India was victimized by a Pakistani-sponsored terrorist murder of 26 tourists in Kashmir, and Hamas-affiliated terrorists attacked passengers on a Jerusalem bus, murdering six people.
Israel and India have in recent years been developing increasingly amicable relations and deepening military cooperation. Their activities include co-production of weapons systems such as drones and air-defense missiles, joint defense exercises, and intelligence exchanges between their special forces.
Israel and India have joined the "I2U2 Group" of US, Indian, Israeli, and UAE member states who have pledged to maintain maritime security. Freedom of the sea lanes from the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea is critical for India's export trade to Europe and for the delivery of imports from the Far East to the Israeli port of Haifa.
Increased political cooperation on the international scene between the two states is also clearly apparent. India has abstained on several UN resolutions condemning Israel for its military presence in Gaza. Israel, for its part, supported India's military retaliation against Pakistan during May 2025's conflict between the two nuclear powers. Both Israel and India have pledged to cooperate on future dual-use technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing and robotics, as well as space projects.
There is no history of nativist anti-Semitism in India. Many young Israelis, after their obligatory national military service, spend time vacationing there.
Tens of thousands of Indian Jews immigrated to Israel following its founding in 1948.
Perhaps the most meaningful dimension of this growing alliance, apart from the benefits of the often outstanding education in both nations, is the element of shared values and trust. It is a strengthening alliance, uplifting to watch.
Dr. Lawrence A. Franklin was the Iran Desk Officer for Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. He also served on active duty with the U.S. Army and as a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve.
