Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Thursday that India and Israel are elevating their bilateral relationship to a new level, declaring the countries’ ties a “special strategic partnership” during a ceremony marking the signing of 16 cooperation agreements between the two nations.

“Today we are granting our partnership, which has proven itself over time, the status of a special strategic partnership,” Modi said alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The agreements, signed by senior officials from both governments, cover cooperation in culture, innovation, and agriculture, including civilian drone use, satellite data sharing, and the transfer of advanced agricultural technologies.