Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his greetings on India's 80th Independence Day, saying India deeply values its friendship with Israel and expressing hope that the bilateral special strategic partnership will grow stronger. Netanyahu had congratulated India and PM Modi on the occasion, describing Modi as his “dear friend” and highlighting the longstanding relationship between the two countries. In his message, the Israeli prime minister noted that India and Israel became independent one year apart and described them as two ancient nations working together to build a better future for their people.
“ Our innovation and friendship are boundless. The best is yet to come!” Netanyahu said in his Independence Day message. His remarks came as leaders and governments from around the world extended greetings to India on August 15, marking the country's 80th Independence Day. Responding to Netanyahu, Modi said India values its friendship with Israel and expressed confidence that the special strategic partnership between the two countries would continue to deepen.
He said stronger bilateral ties could create new opportunities and promote closer people-to-people connections between India and Israel. “I deeply value our friendship with Israel and look forward to our Special Strategic Partnership growing even stronger, unlocking new opportunities and forging deeper people-to-people connections between our nations,” Modi said in his response. The two countries have developed close cooperation across areas including technology, defence, agriculture, innovation and trade.
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Israeli President Isaac Herzog also extended Independence Day greetings to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi. His message added to the expressions of goodwill from Israel's leadership as India marked the national occasion. Modi also thanked several other foreign leaders for their Independence Day greetings. Among those he acknowledged were French President Emmanuel Macron, Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
The messages reflected the diplomatic outreach and international goodwill extended to India on the anniversary of its independence. India and Israel established full diplomatic relations in 1992, and ties have expanded substantially over the years. The relationship was elevated to a special strategic partnership during Modi's visit to Israel in 2017. Since then, both countries have continued to strengthen cooperation in strategic and economic sectors, while also promoting closer exchanges between their people.
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