India and Egypt have entered into a significant collaboration, with both leaders formalising Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) in the areas of cyber security, culture, information technology, youth matters and broadcasting. As a symbol of the enduring partnership between the two nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Egyptian President Abdel Fateh El-Sisi exchanged commemorative postage stamps celebrating 75 years of diplomatic India-Egypt relations.
Egyptian President Abdel Fateh El-Sisi arrived in India on Tuesday on a four-day state visit. Mr. Sisi is the first Egyptian leader to be invited as the chief guest for the Republic Day Parade.
During the visit, both sides signed multiple MOUs and held conversations regarding furthering the India-Egypt relations.
India-Egypt relations: Deliverables for Egypt
Egypt is going through a very difficult financial phase. Inflation is touching the sky and the President of Egypt has acknowledged that his allies are not able to provide the level of support he had hoped for during this difficult period.
Kuwait, along with other countries, is expressing opposition to providing aid to Egypt due to its current economic struggles. In addition, Egypt is dealing with a weakening economy, a lack of wheat and an alarming rice shortage too. Many companies are running low on their stock of rice. People are now having to settle for lower quality rice or are eating less of it than they usually would.
Until now, Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been providing support to Egypt in order to counter Iran’s influence in the region. Now however, Israel and the United States are joining forces to do the same. So Egypt is left alone and isolated in the Arab world, at a time when it needs help the most.
Also read: India comes to the rescue of a famished Egypt
Navdeep Suri, the former Indian Ambassador to Egypt, stated that the invitation for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations as its chief guest was an “important gesture” by the Modi government at a time the world was transitioning towards a multipolar power structure. He further explained that, in light of Western sanctions against Russia and India’s ban on wheat exports, the Modi government made an exception for Egypt.
He said “As the world’s largest importer of wheat, much of it from Ukraine and Russia, Egypt was in a uniquely vulnerable position and India’s assistance bridged what could have become a major gap in supply for them.”
He further added, “The fact is, in a world where the need for strategic autonomy is replacing many traditional alliances in the developing world, India and Egypt are finding more and more in common,”
It is evident that Egypt needs a trustworthy partner to help them. Egypt knows that India is the most reliable partner it can rely on, as India has already helped the nation during difficult times.
India-Egypt relations: Strategic ties between India and Egypt
Egypt sits on the north-eastern tip of the African continent, making it a natural gateway to trade between Africa, Asia and Europe. India could greatly benefit from a country that connects northeast Africa to the Middle East. This nation holds the Suez Canal, one of the most important maritime routes on the planet.
Also read: Egypt is a crucial cog in the wheel of India’s Global South initiative
India has always had an interest in North Africa, but at the same time has had difficulty finding a stable ally. However, things are changing with the emergence of a friendly Egypt under the current regime. Egypt has also traditionally been a leader in the area. In regional organizations like the African Union and the Arab League, it has played a significant role. Egypt now plays a significant role in influencing trade agreements and policies in Africa.
It would be intriguing to see where this comprehensive strategy would take the India-Egypt relations.
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