Israel and India discuss close ties and Abraham Accords during Israeli foreign minister's visit to New Delhi

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Tuesday where they discussed the close diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. The two leaders also discussed how India could facilitate widening the circle of peace in the Middle East via the Abraham Accords.

Cohen stressed India’s significance to the Middle East region as an economic world power.

“India as a world power, the most populous country in the world and the fifth-largest economy, can play a central role in promoting the Abraham Accords and the economic connection between Israel and the moderate countries in the Middle East,” Cohen said.

Bilateral trade between Israel and India has expanded from $200 million in 1992 to more than $6 billion in 2021.

“Modi is one of the main reasons why relations between Israel and India today are the closest and strongest since the establishment of relations between the countries in 1992,” stressed the Israel’s foreign minister.

Cohen also praised Modi for his personal friendship toward the Jewish state and the Jewish people.

“And I heard from [Modi] about his appreciation of Israel, for standing by India even before the establishment of official diplomatic relations between the states.”

Prior to the meeting with Modi, Cohen also met with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

India imports large quantities of military technology from the Jewish state and, in addition to its close ties with Israel, it maintains strong relations with most of the key players in the Middle East.