Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for the first visit by an Israeli leader to India in 15 years, promising closer ties with the regional power.
Netanyahu and his wife Sara were welcomed at the international airport in New Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who made history in July when he became the first Indian leader to visit Israel.
“This visit is an opportunity to enhance cooperation with a global economic, security, technology and tourism power,” Netanyahu said before his visit. “Indian Prime Minister Modi is a close friend of Israel and of mine.”
Modi – who will accompany Netanyahu for large parts of his five-day tour – embraced the Israeli prime minister on the tarmac before the pair set off to pay homage at a war memorial in the Indian capital.
“Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations,” Modi said on Twitter.
Netanyahu will be only the second Israeli PM to visit India and the first since Ariel Sharon in 2003.