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Modi Revives India-Israel Ties as Terrorism Threat Grows
(Bloomberg) N.C Bipindra and Natalie Obiko Pearson - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is openly boosting ties with Israel, strengthening a relationship that has largely grown outside of the public spotlight over the past two decades. Modi's public overtures to Israel since his Bharatiya Janata Party won a landslide election in May are bolstering a defense relationship as both countries face threats from Islamic terrorists. The previous Congress-led government kept ties with Israel quiet, partly over concerns it'd antagonize Muslim voters. "The relationship is coming out of the closet," said Sadanand Dhume, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. "This is unquestionably the most pro-Israel government in India's history. It's one of the many signals of a more assertive India and one that takes terrorism very seriously." India has bought $662 million of Israeli arms since Modi took power six months ago. While the U.S., Russia and European nations are likely to remain India's top suppliers of ships or aircraft, Israel's missile systems, surveillance, and ordnance systems are designed for the kind of threats posed by hostile neighbors and terrorists, according to Jon Grevatt, Asia-Pacific defense industry analyst for IHS Jane's.