India recently welcomed the President of Egypt as the chief guest at its 74th Republic Day, marking the first time an Egyptian President was accorded this honour. This significant gesture illustrates the underlying importance and strategy of New Delhi’s choice of Chief Guest annually, determined by strategic, diplomatic, business interests and geopolitics. A special highlight of the celebration was the inclusion of a military contingent from Egypt in the parade.
The Historic Connection between India and Egypt
The interaction between India and Egypt, two distinguished ancient civilizations, is not a recent phenomenon. Historical ties date back to Emperor Ashoka’s reign when his edicts mentioned cordial relations with Ptolemy-II’s Egypt. In more recent history, Mahatma Gandhi and Egyptian revolutionary Saad Zaghloul shared the mutual objective of breaking free from British colonial rule.
On August 18, 1947, India and Egypt formally established their diplomatic relations at the Ambassadorial level, followed by a Friendship Treaty in 1955. Their bond strengthened in 1961 when they joined Indonesia, Ghana, and Yugoslavia to establish the Non-Aligned Movement.
New Age Partnership
The bilateral relationship between India and Egypt witnessed a significant development in 2016 when a joint statement identified political-security cooperation, economic engagement, scientific collaboration, and cultural and people-to-people ties as the foundation of their new-age partnership. The most recent meeting between the two countries in 2023 elevated this bilateral relationship to a “strategic partnership” comprising four broad elements: political, defence, and security; economic engagement; scientific and academic collaboration; and cultural and people-to-people contacts.
Broadcasting Collaboration
The Prasar Bharati of India and the National Media Authority of Egypt have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate content exchange, capacity building, and co-productions. This pact enables both broadcasters to share their programmes spanning various genres such as sports, news, culture, and entertainment on a bilateral basis.
India’s View of Egypt within the Organization for Islamic Cooperation
For India, Egypt represents a moderate Islamic voice among Muslim-majority countries and is seen as a strategic partner within the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Joint Stand Against Terrorism & Defence Collaboration
During their most recent Republic Day meeting, India and Egypt expressed concerns over increasing global terrorism, unanimously agreeing that collective action is necessary to eradicate cross-border terrorism. Both nations are also eager to deepen their defence and security collaboration. Their air forces have a history of collaborating since the 1960s, with Indian pilots training their Egyptian counterparts until the mid-1980s. The nations’ Air Forces both fly the French Rafale fighter jets.
In 2022, an agreement signalling their intent to participate in joint exercises and cooperate in training was signed. The maiden joint special forces exercise between the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army, “Exercise Cyclone-I”, began recently in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer.
Cultural Exchange & Economic Aid
The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC), established in Cairo in 1992, has been fostering cultural cooperation between the two countries. Despite the ongoing wheat export restrictions, India permitted shipments of 61,500 metric tonnes to Egypt in 2022, helping Egypt overcome its supply crisis caused by the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Egypt, currently seeking Indian investments in several infrastructure projects, has more than 50 Indian companies that have invested over USD 3.15 billion.
Geo-Strategic Concerns and Trade Dynamics
However, with China’s bilateral trade with Egypt double that of India’s and the Egyptian President’s numerous visits to China for winning investments, India has reasons to worry. Egypt, the most populous West Asian country, has a strategic location with 12% of global trade passing through the Suez Canal, making it a prime market for India and a gateway to Europe and Africa. Its bilateral trade agreements with important West Asian and African nations amplify India’s concerns.
Last Modified: February 19, 2024