Rajnath holds "productive" talks with visiting Israeli defense minister

We place great value on our Strategic Partnership with Israel, Singh tweeted. Glad that both the countries adopted a Vision Statement which will pave the way for defense cooperation in the future.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday held extensive talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Gantz, focusing on evolving regional security scenarios and ways to further strengthen bilateral ties.

The two sides adopted a 'vision statement' reaffirming their resolve to expand defense and military cooperation.

Officials said the two ministers deliberated on the co-development and co-production of military equipment in sync with growing India-Israel strategic ties besides discussing geopolitical turmoil including the Ukraine crisis.

Singh described the meeting with Gantz as ''warm and productive'' ''Discussed key issues about defense cooperation and global and regional scenarios during the bilateral meeting. We place great value on our Strategic Partnership with Israel,'' Singh tweeted.

''Glad that both the countries adopted a 'Vison Statement' which will pave the way for defense cooperation in future. There is a broad consensus between both the countries on further strengthening the bilateral strategic and defense cooperation,'' he added.

The overall situation in the Gulf region was also figured in the talks, according to officials.

Before the talks, Gantz paid tributes to India's fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial.

India has been a major buyer of Israel's military hardware. Israel has been supplying various weapon systems, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles to India over the last few years but the transactions have largely remained behind the curtains.

India procured several weapons and ammunition including Spike anti-tank guided missiles from Israel in the last couple of years.