India invited Egypt as the chief guest for its Republic Day celebrations on Jan. 26, 2023. It took seven decades of bilateral ties to make this critical decision. Reasons like strategic calculations or international political situations generally dictate the choice of the chief guest. This decision highlights the remarkable shift in India’s strategy towards the Arab world. The foundation of the relationship dates back to the Cold War era, from setting the stage for the Non-Aligned Movement and India’s show of support to Egypt’s nationalization of the Suez Canal. The relations have been given a renewed approach in the contemporary context.
In a joint press statement on Jan. 22, 2023, India and Egypt announced that both countries have decided to elevate their bilateral ties into a strategic partnership based on four pillars: political and security cooperation, economic engagement, scientific and academic collaboration and cultural and people-to-people contacts. Five MoUs have been signed by both countries that are said to provide cooperation in culture, IT, cyber security, youth matters and broadcasting. The scope for cooperation in the fields of defence and security, PM Modi said, is “unlimited”. For India, a strategic partnership with Egypt is of great significance. Egypt could be India’s bridge to Africa. Egypt’s diplomatic presence makes it a major player in global affairs.
In this context, the India-Egypt strategic partnership significantly impacts the two countries and their geo-strategies. Both countries share concerns about terrorism. They have also decided to strengthen cooperation between defence industries and increase the exchange of counter-terrorism information and intelligence. Apart from this, Egypt’s location in the energy-rich region close to UAE and Saudi also adds to India’s strategic advantage. Hence, trade and commerce become essential dimensions of this cooperation. India can make inroads into Egyptian markets that offer attractive investment opportunities and incentives. This allows Indian companies to be set up in Egypt and could help Egypt boost its economy. Many Indian businesses are already contributing to Egypt’s economy in pharmaceuticals, information technology, textiles and garments. Overall, India-Egypt Strategic Partnership is a landmark in the countries’ bilateral ties.
The India-Egypt ties provide many other opportunities, including a prospective Egypt-GCC-India or Egypt-I2U2 partnership enabling the countries involved to benefit from what each offers. India and Egypt can take the lead in exploiting the potential of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, and water technology, among others. Given the prospects, other potential areas of cooperation between India and Egypt include tourism promotion and undertaking cultural exchange programs. For instance, the role of the Indian diaspora in Egypt is also significant as it has played a critical binding role in the relationship between the two sides.
However, some factors challenge the working of the India-Egypt partnership. Firstly, Egypt is in the midst of a catastrophic economic crisis due to problems like rising food prices, unemployment and poor functioning of banks. The increasing role of the military concerns Egypt’s significant partners, especially the GCC. Besides, the Ukraine crisis also added to the economic woes of Egypt as many of the commodities like eggs and cooking oil are being sold at double the average price due to a shortage in supply. Egypt needs its strategic partners now more than before, requiring internal reforms to offer a conducive environment to conduct the partnerships effectively.
In addition, some experts also consider China’s engagement with Egypt as one of the major challenges to the ties. Experts believe that the invitation to President Sisi, the Egyptian leader, as the chief guest to Republic Day celebrations has a China angle to it, given the increasing infrastructural investments by China in Egypt. Egypt’s strategic location, due to its proximity to one of the major choke points, i.e. Suez Canal, makes it a significant player in the Indian Ocean and the larger geopolitics of the Indian Ocean. Thus, India must find ways to enhance its maritime and energy security cooperation.
There are diverse areas of convergence between both sides. The defence ties are among the most vital provisions to help fulfil Egypt’s defence requirements. On the other hand, it also gives India a market to promote its indigenous defence production initiatives. Hence it is a win-win relationship. Other areas of cooperation, like information technology and agriculture, can also benefit Egypt and India as they seek to expand their economic prospects. The way forward is to strengthen and invest in the convergences by overcoming the challenges posed to the relationship. President Sisi’s visit has already set a precedent for the beginning of a renewed relationship between India and Egypt.
[Prime Minister’s Office, India, via Wikimedia Commons]
Gokireddy Hima Bindu and Yashvi B. are postgraduate research scholars at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka, India. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors.
