New delhi: The first round of the Egypt-India Strategic Dialogue was held in New Delhi, co-chaired by Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Expatriates Affairs Badr Abdelatty and Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. This significant event marks a new phase in the bilateral relations between the two countries.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the launch of the dialogue signifies the accelerating progress in bilateral ties and a shared commitment to advancing the strategic partnership established during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Egypt in June 2023. The dialogue confirms both countries' intent to strengthen cooperation and ensure the implementation of memorandums of understanding across various fields, serving mutual interests.
The ministers acknowledged the strides made in Egypt-India relations, characterized by mutual understanding and close coordination at the leadership level. They also highlighted the significance of the 70th anniversary of the Egypt-India Friendship Agreement, expressing aspirations for further collaboration in all sectors for the benefit of both peoples.
The strategic dialogue addressed enhancing economic, trade, and investment ties, advancing cooperation in technology and innovation, and expanding the defense partnership, particularly in joint training and defense industries. Security cooperation in counterterrorism and intelligence sharing was also discussed.
The two sides exchanged views on regional and international political issues of common interest and discussed mechanisms for promoting South-South cooperation. Abdelatty proposed holding the 8th session of the Egypt-India Joint Committee in Cairo in the first half of 2026, emphasizing the importance of a business forum to promote economic cooperation.
On economic and trade relations, Abdelatty reviewed Egypt's structural reforms since 2016, which have improved the country's economic performance and created a more attractive investment climate. Discussions explored cooperation in green transition-related industries, such as the manufacturing of solar panels and wind turbines.
Abdelatty encouraged Indian companies to invest in Egypt, particularly through the Suez Canal Economic Zone, which offers extensive investment incentives. He also congratulated India on its upcoming BRICS presidency in 2026, reaffirming Egypt's support for enhanced cooperation among member states.
Regarding regional developments, Abdelatty reviewed Egypt's diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, culminating in the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit. He emphasized the need for implementing the summit's outcomes and facilitating humanitarian assistance.
Jaishankar praised the growing momentum in Egypt-India ties and reiterated India's keenness to enhance cooperation across political, economic, and trade domains. He commended Egypt's role in promoting peace in the Middle East and applauded its efforts to help end the war in Gaza.
Both ministers agreed that the current multilateral international system is undergoing a crisis of credibility and effectiveness, as evidenced by the paralysis of institutions mandated to address global crises, particularly the UN Security Council. They stressed that the failure to act demonstrates that current structures no longer adequately uphold the core principles of international peace and security.