Fearing backlash, India rebuffed request by Barak to attend defense expo
Defense minister wanted to go to security exhibition in New Delhi last month
India turned down a request by Defense Minister Ehud Barak for an official visit to the country six weeks ago, citing domestic political concerns, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday.
The defense minister had hoped to visit India during Defexpo, a large security exhibition organized by the Indian Defense Ministry and held in New Delhi from March 29 to April 1, to showcase the cooperation between Israel and India.
However, Indian officials reportedly balked at the presence of a high-level Israeli official, fearing that Barak’s participation might cause controversy.
Twenty representatives of the Israeli defense industry participated in the exhibition, and the Israeli pavilion was the largest in Defexpo. Israel is among the top three defense suppliers to India.
Both Barak’s office and the Israeli Embassy’s spokesman in New Delhi refused to comment on the issue, Haaretz reported.