India

Sisi visits next week; defence on agenda

Next week, when Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends the Republic Day celebrations in India as the primary guest, security, defence, cybersecurity, and agriculture are expected to dominate the bilateral discussion.

Egypt desires a substantial partnership with India in the areas of defence and agriculture, as well as in the information technology and culture sectors, for which the two nations are considering signing roughly six agreements. Egypt is interested in purchasing defence equipment from India, including LCA Tejas, Akash missiles, DRDO’s Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon, and radars. This is being developed as part of cooperation in the defence industry, and one of the indicators is that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Cairo last year to sign a defence partnership.

President Sisi, a former military leader, is acutely aware of the geopolitical difficulties in the region and seeks to equip the Egyptian military accordingly.

In fact, in order to highlight the defence links, an Egyptian military unit will also be present at the Republic Day parade.

Egypt has been invited to participate in the Aero-India 2023 next month at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru as a follow-up to their interest in obtaining Indian indigenous technology.

Egypt is also responding, as India has been invited to participate in Exercise Bright Star – biannual joint training exercises led by US and Egyptian soldiers — in Egypt this September.

EXPLAINED

Aiming for closer partnership

With the upcoming visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to India, defence and security are a top priority. Egypt and India, both viewed as moderate voices in the area, would consider intensifying their collaboration in light of regional security threats. The Republic Day invitation will likely strengthen these relationships.

Egypt and India share a larger degree of agreement on the issue, making security cooperation another area of robust cooperation. India seeks a partnership with a nation where Sisi is reputed to have fought terrorism with an iron fist, given that Egypt faces the threat of terrorism. Details of a potential cybersecurity agreement are now being worked upon.

Egypt, which is experiencing a lack of food grains after Ukraine and Russia ceased to be its primary suppliers, also wishes to purchase wheat from India. In May of the previous year, India, which had prohibited the sale of wheat, authorised the export of 61,000 tonnes of wheat to Egypt. However, the country desires additional grains in light of the current shortages.

In addition to arriving at a time when the country is experiencing a severe economic crisis due to depleted foreign exchange reserves, Egypt’s president is also arriving at a time when the country is facing a tremendous economic disaster. There has been no request for budgetary assistance, but India is considering boosting its investments in the country, particularly in big infrastructure projects.

Sisi had visited India twice in the preceding nine years. However, this is the first time Egypt would be the principal guest at the Republic Day celebration. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Sisi, who arrives in India on January 24, will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 25 and take part in Republic Day festivities. The invitation to be the R-chief Day’s guest is extremely symbolic for India. New Delhi has been crafting a hospitality-based approach to choose the event’s principal guest.

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Nisha

Hi, my name is Nisha and I'm an educational journalist based in India. I've always been passionate about the power of education to transform lives, and that's what led me to pursue a career in journalism focused on this area. I completed my Bachelor's degree in English from Hindu College in Delhi in 2013 and then went on to earn my Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in 2017. During my studies, I also completed several short-term courses on Education in India, Sociology, and other related subjects to deepen my knowledge in this field. I'm particularly interested in improving access to quality education in rural areas, where students often face significant challenges. I've worked on a number of initiatives to address this issue, including advocating for better policies, resources, and practices that can make a difference. As an educational journalist, I'm passionate about using my platform to highlight important issues in the education space. I've covered a wide range of topics, including the impact of technology in the classroom, innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and the challenges facing students from marginalized communities. One of the things I love most about my work is the opportunity to constantly learn and grow. I'm an avid reader and believe that reading is key to expanding one's knowledge and perspective. I'm always seeking out new ideas and insights to help me better understand the world around me. In summary, as an educational journalist, I'm dedicated to using my skills and expertise to make a positive impact in the field of education. I'm committed to improving access to quality education for all students and to using my platform to raise awareness about important issues in this area.

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