Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing the India-Israel relationship as an “unprecedented partnership” and saying the friendship between the two countries had “never been stronger”.Birthday greetings poured in from across the world, with foreign leaders, envoys and diplomatic missions highlighting India’s bilateral partnerships and Modi’s role in strengthening ties. Russian president Vladimir Putin praised his contribution to the “special and privileged strategic partnership” between India and Russia, while Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni wished Modi “health, energy, and success”.“Happy birthday, Narendra!” Netanyahu wrote in a post on X, alongside an image of the two leaders. “Your leadership has transformed India into a world power. Together, we have built an unprecedented partnership between our two great democracies.”The Modi-Netanyahu bonhomie has become a prominent feature of India-Israel ties, with both leaders repeatedly highlighting their personal friendship and political trust. Their meetings and public exchanges have highlighted a relationship that extends beyond formal diplomacy into close strategic cooperation.“The friendship between Israel and India has never been stronger, and together we will take it to even greater heights,” he added, wishing Modi “many more years of leadership, health and fulfillment”.India and Israel established full diplomatic relations in 1992, while PM Modi’s July 2017 visit to Israel elevated the relationship to a strategic partnership. Netanyahu followed with a visit to India in January 2018.The relationship now covers defence, security, technology, agriculture, water, innovation, trade and other areas. During PM Modi’s visit to Israel in February 2026, Netanyahu described him as “my dear friend” and said, “You are more than a friend; you are a brother in many respects.” He also said, “Israel is stronger than ever and India is stronger than ever.”Netanyahu’s birthday message came days after India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where the grouping adopted a New Delhi Declaration that included strong references to the Israel-Lebanon conflict and the Gaza war.On Lebanon, BRICS leaders said, “We welcome the ceasefire in Lebanon” and called for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The declaration also called on Israel to “withdraw its occupying forces from all of the Lebanese territories, in which they remain”.
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That diplomatic contrast has not, so far, translated into a visible rupture in India-Israel ties. Netanyahu’s latest message instead points to continued political engagement, while New Delhi maintains separate tracks with Israel, Arab countries and the wider BRICS grouping.
