Modi invites new Israeli counterpart Netanyahu to visit India

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and both leaders agreed on the potential for further strengthening bilateral strategic cooperation in a variety of areas. It was the first phone conversation between Modi and Netanyahu after the veteran Israeli leader was sworn in as the prime minister for a sixth term around two weeks ago.

“Was a pleasure to speak with my good friend,@netanyahu. Congratulated him for his impressive election win and for becoming Prime Minister for a record sixth time. Delighted that we will have another chance to advance the India-Israel Strategic Partnership together,” Modi tweeted.

During the talks, Modi invited Netanyahu to visit India at an early date, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The prime minister conveyed his warm congratulations to Netanyahu for his election as the Prime Minister of Israel for a sixth time, and wished him a very successful tenure,” it said.

The PMO said the two leaders expressed satisfaction at the rapid progress in the India-Israel strategic partnership in recent years.

“The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the rapid progress in the India-Israel Strategic Partnership in recent years, and agreed on the potential for further strengthening strategic cooperation in a variety of areas.

Netanyahu’s office described the conversation between the two leaders as “warm and good”.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today with Indian Prime Minister @NarendraModi. The conversation between the two leaders was warm and good,” it tweeted.

“Indian Prime Minister Modi congratulated Prime Minister Netanyahu on forming the 37th government and emphasized the importance of continued bilateral cooperation. They agreed to meet soon,” it said.

Netanyahu is expected to visit India this year.

His visit to India in 2019 during his previous stint as the prime minister was called off due to scheduling issues. Both sides were working on a plan for his visit to India in 2021 but that did not materialise as he was ousted from power in June that year.

Netanyahu came back as the prime minister in December after his Likud party formed a coalition with some other parties following the elections.

The ties between India and Israel have been on an upswing in the last few years in a range of sectors including defence, agriculture and water.