Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel has completely shaken foreign policy of India. The traditional Indian approach of a tilt toward the Islamic world has been discontinued by a single stroke of policy change leading to a completely new approach for the Middle East. The immediate and long-term impact could be significant. It took 25 long years for India to assert this new approach in its foreign policy. It is true that PM Modi received a historic mandate in the 2014 General Elections wherein the people of India voted for a majority government after three decades of turbulent coalition politics. The thumping majority in parliament empowers Modi to assert on every front of governance including foreign, economic, internal security, social welfare etc and that is precisely what he is doing at the central government. The right-wing ideology pushed by RSS and facilitated by the BJP government is looking to heightened nationalism leading to the consolidation of defense capacities of military forces in India. Post-1967 gulf war, Israel decided to build an indigenous defense manufacturing base. Israel invested a double-digit percentage of budgetary allocation in R&D for defense manufacturing, since 1985 – Israel has been the largest exporter of drones in the world, responsible for 60 percent of the global market, trailed by the USA whose market share is 23.9 percent. Israel’s success in developing state-of-the-art satellites, cyber warfare, advanced drone technology and associated payloads has caught the world’s attention. Initially, the satellite was used to study land resources including vegetation, agriculture and water quality. Later the Israel arm forces decided to use the satellite namely 9900 to focus on strategic targets and enemies for reconnaissance flights by spy planes or drones. India with Narendra Modi in power is looking aggressively to modernize the defense capabilities of the country by focusing on enhancing the defense manufacturing base under the ‘Make in India’ initiative by inviting private sector companies to establish world-class production hubs in India and by actively collaborating with USA, Israel, Russia for product and technology transfer. Israel is perceived to be the natural ally for the Indian quest for consolidation of defense equipment manufacturing base in India.

The recent visit of the Indian Prime Minister to the USA and Israel has sent a clear signal to the countries challenging India, namely China and Pakistan, in the new world order. The tactical shift of India by forging a strategic security alliance with the USA and Israel has sent China into a tizzy. The recent aggression on the border is a direct bearing on the ever-building defense ties between India and USA; it is likely to challenge China's dominance in Asia. China is using Pakistan extensively to disturb peace in India by aiding Pakistan through funds, military equipment and nuclear technology for a long. Narendra Modi successfully turned the table on China by setting up military collaboration with the USA, Israel, and Russia and the result is Chinese desperation on the border. The Indian government has sent NSA Ajit Doval to China to defuse the tension and start friendly discussions leading to better ties.

On the domestic front, the country is having new President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. It is for the first time that country’s highest positions are occupied by the RSS cadre and followers. And with Nitish Kumar’s exit from the alliance in Bihar, BJP and Modi are in complete command of the political situation in India. The control is so overwhelming that there is no trace of opposition and the road to the General elections 2019 for Modi is clear and well-established.

—Prashant Tewari, Editor-in-Chief

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel has completely shaken foreign policy of India. The traditional Indian approach of a tilt toward the Islamic world has been discontinued by a single stroke of policy change leading to a completely new approach for the Middle East. The immediate and long-term impact could be significant. It took 25 long years for India to assert this new approach in its foreign policy. It is true that PM Modi received a historic mandate in the 2014 General Elections wherein the people of India voted for a majority government after three decades of turbulent coalition politics. The thumping majority in parliament empowers Modi to assert on every front of governance including foreign, economic, internal security, social welfare etc and that is precisely what he is doing at the central government. The right-wing ideology pushed by RSS and facilitated by the BJP government is looking to heightened nationalism leading to the consolidation of defense capacities of military forces in India. Post-1967 gulf war, Israel decided to build an indigenous defense manufacturing base. Israel invested a double-digit percentage of budgetary allocation in R&D for defense manufacturing, since 1985 – Israel has been the largest exporter of drones in the world, responsible for 60 percent of the global market, trailed by the USA whose market share is 23.9 percent. Israel’s success in developing state-of-the-art satellites, cyber warfare, advanced drone technology and associated payloads has caught the world’s attention. Initially, the satellite was used to study land resources including vegetation, agriculture and water quality. Later the Israel arm forces decided to use the satellite namely 9900 to focus on strategic targets and enemies for reconnaissance flights by spy planes or drones. India with Narendra Modi in power is looking aggressively to modernize the defense capabilities of the country by focusing on enhancing the defense manufacturing base under the ‘Make in India’ initiative by inviting private sector companies to establish world-class production hubs in India and by actively collaborating with USA, Israel, Russia for product and technology transfer. Israel is perceived to be the natural ally for the Indian quest for consolidation of defense equipment manufacturing base in India.

The recent visit of the Indian Prime Minister to the USA and Israel has sent a clear signal to the countries challenging India, namely China and Pakistan, in the new world order. The tactical shift of India by forging a strategic security alliance with the USA and Israel has sent China into a tizzy. The recent aggression on the border is a direct bearing on the ever-building defense ties between India and USA; it is likely to challenge China's dominance in Asia. China is using Pakistan extensively to disturb peace in India by aiding Pakistan through funds, military equipment and nuclear technology for a long. Narendra Modi successfully turned the table on China by setting up military collaboration with the USA, Israel, and Russia and the result is Chinese desperation on the border. The Indian government has sent NSA Ajit Doval to China to defuse the tension and start friendly discussions leading to better ties.

On the domestic front, the country is having new President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. It is for the first time that country’s highest positions are occupied by the RSS cadre and followers. And with Nitish Kumar’s exit from the alliance in Bihar, BJP and Modi are in complete command of the political situation in India. The control is so overwhelming that there is no trace of opposition and the road to the General elections 2019 for Modi is clear and well-established.

—Prashant Tewari, Editor-in-Chief