Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday held a meeting with his visiting Israeli counterpart Benny Gantz in New Delhi and discussed a range of issues with a focus on evolving regional security scenarios and ways to strengthen bilateral ties.

During the meeting, the two sides adopted a “vision statement” aimed at expanding their defence and military cooperation.

Singh said he discussed key issues on defence cooperation and global and regional scenarios with Gantz.

“Glad that both the countries adopted a ‘vision statement’ which will pave the way for defence cooperation in future. There is a broad consensus between both the countries on further strengthening the bilateral strategic and defence cooperation,” Singh said in a tweet after the meeting.

Sources 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 the geopolitical turmoil, including the Ukraine crisis.

“India and Israel share similar and common challenges, including border security and fighting terrorism. By working together, we may increase our capabilities and ensure the security and economic interests of both countries,” a statement from Gantz’s office said.

Israel is one of India’s top defence partners. In the wake of the ongoing border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army had last year leased four Heron-TP medium-altitude, long-endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from Israel to strengthen its surveillance mechanism along the Line of Actual Control.