Narendra Modi. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Narendra Modi

Prime Minister of India

Narendra Modi’s election as India’s Prime Minister in May 2014 has introduced an unprecedented warmth to India-Israel relations. While previous governments faithfully supported the Arab states diplomatically and kept relations with Israel quiet, Modi, the head of the conservative, Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party, regards Israel as a key ally in the war against Islamist terrorism. Most immediately, it’s Israel’s defense industry that is reaping the reward of better ties, having exported almost $700 million of weaponry to India since Modi’s election. Now the Jewish state is keenly awaiting the first ever official visit from a sitting Indian Prime Minister.