Strengthening Bilateral Ties: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Visit to Egypt

The Prime Minister Modi’s two-day visit to Egypt was aimed at deepening bilateral ties in several areas, including defense, trade and culture. Modi and Sisi discussed a range of issues during the meeting, including security, maritime security, defense, trade and investment, culture, tourism, and people-to-people contacts. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. India and Egypt signed seven agreements in various fields including culture, maritime transport, small and medium enterprises, and electricity.

The two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of traditional medicine and medical sciences. The two sides expressed satisfaction at the progress made in strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries, including in the areas of capacity building, joint exercises, training programmes, and defense industry cooperation. The two leaders also agreed to work together to support the United Nations and its specialised agencies in the areas of peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. India and Egypt have traditionally enjoyed close and friendly ties.

Both countries have strong civilizational and cultural links that have been nourished by regular exchanges of visits at the political level. Under Modi’s leadership, India has sought to deepen the strategic partnership with Egypt, as part of its focus on the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. The two countries have also looked to promote international peace and security, and have cooperated in various United Nations-led initiatives. India and Egypt signed a strategic partnership agreement on Sunday, elevating their already strong bilateral relationship to a new level.

The agreement, reached during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden visit to the North African country, comes soon after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's visit to India in January. The agreement was hailed as a “landmark” development in the history of India-Egypt ties. During his meeting with Sisi, Modi was also conferred Egypt’s highest civilian award, the Order of the Nile.  

On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi met with Egypt’s Grand Mufti Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam and discussed how India and Egypt can partner in countering extremist ideology and preventing radicalisation of the youth. The two-day visit was aimed at deepening bilateral ties in various fields, including defence, trade and culture. During the meeting, Modi and Sisi discussed a range of issues, such as security, maritime security, defence, trade and investment, culture, tourism, and people-to-people contacts. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Under Modi's leadership, India has sought to deepen the strategic partnership with Egypt, as part of its focus on the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. India and Egypt have also cooperated in various United Nations-led initiatives.