\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP17187397494446-400x250.jpg\")
\n\t\tImage:Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Modi\u2019s 2017 visit to Israel, marking a milestone in a partnership that continues to shape regional alignments and emerging trade corridors.Photo: Jack Guez \/ Pool via AP .<\/p>\n
This week\u2019s visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel signals the consolidation of a broader regional axis confronting both Shiite and Sunni radicalism across the space stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean \u2014 while simultaneously strengthening Europe\u2019s connection to the trade routes envisioned under the IMEC corridor.<\/p>\n
Taking place amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, and during a particularly sensitive period in the region, the visit underscores India\u2019s commitment to partners with whom it shares deep strategic and geopolitical alignment \u2014 both in the near and long term.<\/p>\n
An emerging axis includes India, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Somaliland, Jordan, Israel, Cyprus and Greece \u2014 working in coordination with the United States and the European Union to promote stability, infrastructure development and new trade corridors.<\/p>\n
In parallel, more complex alignments involving Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar and other regional actors \u2014 sometimes operating in coordination with China \u2014 continue to shape the strategic landscape, even as many of these countries maintain longstanding ties with Washington.<\/p>\n
One of the clearest expressions of these emerging dynamics can be seen in the question of Somaliland versus Somalia. Countries associated with India\u2019s emerging network \u2014 including the UAE, Ethiopia and regional partners \u2014 are actively advancing the development of the port of Berbera and integrating the Horn of Africa into new trade routes. Meanwhile, states that at times align more closely with the Pakistan-Turkey axis \u2014 and in certain contexts also Egypt and Saudi Arabia \u2014 tend to support the federal government in Mogadishu. As a result, recognition and investment patterns in the region increasingly serve as a geopolitical indicator of competing visions.<\/p>\n
India, the world\u2019s largest democracy, operates alongside Israel \u2014 the Middle East\u2019s only democracy \u2014 in a broader effort to balance competing regional influences, while Pakistan deepens ties with Turkey and Qatar.<\/p>\n
The United Arab Emirates, pursuing a firm stance against Islamist radicalism, is working with Ethiopia to develop infrastructure and ports in the Horn of Africa \u2014 particularly Berbera \u2014 as part of a new regional logistics framework. At the same time, Ethiopia\u2019s strategic contest with Egypt over Nile waters adds another layer to the evolving alliance structure.<\/p>\n
Turkey continues to position itself as a bridge between Asia and Europe, yet faces geopolitical challenges and longstanding tensions with Cyprus and Greece.<\/p>\n
The foundation of India-Israel strategic partnership was laid during Modi\u2019s 2017 visit to Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s return visit to India in 2018, which deepened defense, economic and technological cooperation between the two countries.<\/p>\n
In early 2026, another visit by Netanyahu to India was planned amid high-level diplomatic engagements and discussions on major trade agreements, but it was postponed in part to manage sensitivities vis-\u00e0-vis major powers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, India has concluded significant trade agreements with both the European Union and the United States, reflecting Modi\u2019s strategy of deepening ties with the West while maintaining working relationships with Russia and China.<\/p>\n
This approach has also eased Israel\u2019s strategic environment, as India\u2019s growing alignment with Western economies creates additional space for the India-Israel axis to expand.<\/p>\n
Regarding Iran and the tensions between Washington and Tehran, Modi conveys a clear strategic message: despite India\u2019s interests in Iran\u2019s Chabahar port, his regional engagement and public positioning reflect a broader priority \u2014 advancing India\u2019s rise as a major power and countering radicalism, even when this requires balancing narrower economic interests.<\/p>\n
In this sense, Modi\u2019s visit forms part of a wider process reshaping the geopolitical space between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean, where ports, trade corridors and security partnerships are becoming key instruments in defining the emerging regional order.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, the visit is expected to deepen political, security and economic cooperation, while expanding collaboration in areas such as space, science, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n
The direction is clear: India is no longer a distant player in Middle Eastern geopolitics \u2014 it is becoming one of its architects.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tRafi Glick is a writer, lecturer, farmer, and business executive with decades of experience at the intersection of academia, technology, agriculture, and international trade.
\n\u2022\tHe has served as a Senior Teaching Associate at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Ono Academic College, Ariel University, Ruppin Academic Center, and as a guest lecturer at Sofia University\u2019s Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA). At Ben-Gurion University he also advised the BGU\u2013NHSA Accelerator in the Faculty of Science.
\n\u2022\tIn business, Rafi was CEO of Bidsnet Ltd., a pioneer in deploying fiber-optic cables through unconventional infrastructure (in partnership with CableRunner), delivering high-speed connectivity to homes, enterprises, institutions, and cellular networks. Earlier he held senior roles at ECI Telecom and served on the board of RLF Venture Capital, working with partners such as Intel, Teva, and the Jerusalem Development Authority.
\n\u2022\tHe contributed extensively to Israel\u2019s trade and investment ecosystem: he directed industrial and agricultural technology divisions at the Israel Export Institute, founded Israel\u2019s AGRITECH as international exhibition, and served on the board of the Israeli Investment Center at the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
\n\u2022\tIn his early career, Rafi established and served as the first director of the Cargo and Aircraft Supply Security Department in the Security Division at Ben-Gurion Airport (1972\u20131976). He lived in Kibbutz Parod until 1974.
\n\u2022\tRafi has also been recognized for his writing: in 2008 he was named Best Economic Blogger by TheMarker, Israel\u2019s leading business daily.
\n\u2022\tToday he continues to publish essays and commentary\u2014with a special passion for astrophysics, space exploration, technology, economics, and social issues.
\nFrom Kibbutz Parod to the global stage, Rafi Glick\u2019s career reflects a lifelong commitment to building connections\u2014between people, industries, and ideas.
\n Email: rafi.glick@gmail.com\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Image:Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Modi\u2019s 2017 visit to Israel, marking…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":202141,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[85,46,43],"class_list":{"0":"post-308138","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-israel","8":"tag-il","9":"tag-israel","10":"tag-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/308138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=308138"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/308138\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/202141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=308138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=308138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=308138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}