JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday described Israel’s relationship with India as “unique and historic,” highlighting deepening personal and strategic bonds with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Indian leader prepares to arrive for a high-profile visit.

Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Modi would land in Israel on Wednesday for talks focused on bolstering economic, diplomatic, and security cooperation. The visit marks Modi’s second trip to Israel since 2017 and comes amid growing bilateral ties in defense, technology, and innovation.

“We have a unique and, in my opinion, historic alliance with the United States, both nation-to-nation and through my personal relationship with President Trump,” Netanyahu said. “This alliance does not mean that we are not seeking additional alliances; on the contrary, we are cultivating them constantly.”

He emphasized the personal friendship with Modi, noting frequent phone calls, mutual visits, and shared experiences, including wading together in the Mediterranean Sea during a previous encounter.

“This week, expression will be given to the special relationship that has been forged over recent years between Israel and the global power that is India, and between myself and its leader, Prime Minister Modi,” Netanyahu added. “We are personal friends; we speak frequently on the phone and visit one another.”

The prime minister framed the visit within a broader geopolitical strategy, envisioning a “hexagon” of alliances involving India, Arab nations, African countries, Mediterranean partners like Greece and Cyprus, and other Asian states. He said the network aims to counter “radical axes,” including the “radical Shia axis, which we have struck very hard, and the emerging radical Sunni axis.”

“All of these nations share a different perception, and our cooperation can yield great results and, of course, ensure our resilience and our future,” he said.

During the visit, Modi is scheduled to address the Knesset, join Netanyahu at an innovation event in Jerusalem focused on high-tech, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial together.

Netanyahu stressed that AI and quantum technologies represent “the present,” not just the future, and Israel aims to lead globally in these fields.

The cabinet also advanced domestic development initiatives. Netanyahu noted a recent decision to establish an alternate international airport at Ziklag in the northern Negev, near Rahat and Netivot, to complement Ben Gurion Airport. He said bureaucratic hurdles have been cut, allowing planning to advance rapidly—potentially in just half a year—before issuing tenders. Parallel efforts will accelerate development at Ramat David in the north, with long-term plans for a third, seaborne airfield.

“We are going to make history,” Netanyahu said of the dual-airport push. “We want both of these airfields.”

Additionally, the government is set to approve planning for a new community in the Negev and another near Kiryat Gat targeted at the growing Haredi population to address housing needs. Netanyahu described these as part of an “immense development momentum in the Negev.”

The announcements come as Israel continues to navigate regional security challenges while expanding international partnerships beyond traditional allies.