India-Egypt Defence Co-operation

What’s in News?

India and Egypt signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation.

News Summary:

• This was signed by Defence Minister who is in a two day visit to Cairo
• During the (bilateral) meeting, both sides discussed steps to strengthen defence ties and reached a consensus to enhance conduct of joint exercises and exchange of personnel for training, especially in the field of counter-insurgency
• They also exchanged views on regional security and acknowledged the contribution of India and Egypt to peace and stability in the world
• India invited Egypt to the India-Africa Defence Dialogue and Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Defence Ministers’ conclave, scheduled to be held as part of 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat between October 18 to 22, 2022.
• Egypt is one of the largest investment destinations for India in the region with an existing Indian investment of USD 3.15 billion.
• Moreover, to bolster defence cooperation between the two countries, a team of the Indian Air Force arrived in Egypt on June 22 to participate in a bilateral 'Tactical Leadership Programme' with the Egyptian Air Force.
• There was close cooperation between the Air Forces, with efforts at jointly developing a fighter aircraft in the 1960s.
• IAF pilots had also trained Egyptian pilots from the 1960s until 1984.
• Other Defence Exercise between the two nations include –

1. Egypt participated in the Multinational Training Exercise for friendly African countries held at Pune in March 2019.
2. The first ever IAF-EAF Joint Tactical Air Exercise, Dessert Warrior, was held in October 2021.
3. The first ever Special Forces exercise “Cyclone 1” between India and Egypt planned in Jodhpur from 8th – 22nd January 2022 stands postponed.
4. Egyptian Navy participated in Multilateral Indian Naval Exercise MILAN-2022

India-Egypt Relations:

• Ashoka’s edicts refer to his relations with Egypt under Ptolemy-II.
• In modern times, Mahatma Gandhi and Saad Zaghloul shared common goals on the independence of their countries, a relationship that was to blossom into an exceptionally close friendship between President Nasser and Prime Minister Nehru, leading to a Friendship Treaty between the two countries in 1955.
• The joint announcement of establishment of diplomatic relations at Ambassadorial level was made on 18 August 1947.
• Both countries have cooperated closely in multilateral for a and were the founding members of Non-Aligned Movement.
• The year 2022 is of particular significance since it marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relation between India and Egypt

Economic Relations:

• The India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favoured Nation clause and the bilateral trade has increased more than five times in last ten years.
• Bilateral trade has expanded rapidly in 2021-22, amounting to 7.26 billion registering a 75% increase compared to FY 2020-21
• India’s exports to Egypt during this period amounted to US$ 3.74 billion, registering a 65% increase over the same period in FY 2020-21.
• At the same time, Egypt’s exports to India reached US$ 3.52 billion registering an 86% increase.
• During this period of 2021-22, the top Indian imports from Egypt were Mineral Oil/Petroleum, Fertilizers, Inorganic Chemicals and Cotton and main items of export to Egypt from India were Buffalo Meat, Iron & Steel, Light Vehicles and Cotton Yarn.
• India was 3rd largest export market for Egypt, 6th largest trading partner and 7th largest exporter to Egypt.