India increases its defence cooperation with Egypt

The largest destroyer in the Indian Navy, INS KOCHI, which can carry 8,000 tonnes of cargo, paid a visit to Safaga, Egypt, from June 28 to 30, signalling an increase of the country’s defence cooperation.

The destroyer further took part in a PASSEX, closely collaborating with the Egyptian Navy. Ajit Gupte, the Indian ambassador to Cairo, stopped by the INS KOCHI to speak with the sailors and the fleet commander.

The ship’s visit is a part of India and Egypt’s ongoing, more intense defence exchanges.

The envoy stated that there has been a renewed push in bilateral exchanges between India and Egypt ever since the coronavirus pandemic’s fall, with several delegations from India visiting Egypt in the past year or two.

He added that with more bilateral interactions, collaboration in the defence industry has become one of the main areas of interest.

Further, according to Gupte, India and Egypt have friendly defence relations and cooperate on a variety of projects under the auspices of the Joint Defence Committee (JDC), including training, joint exercises, ship and aircraft transits, and defence displays.

Desert Warrior, the first joint tactical air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Egyptian Air Force, took place in late October 2021. The commander of the Egyptian Air Force is now in India.

Between November 28 and December 2, 2021, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari of India paid a visit to Egypt, where he attended the “Egypt Air Power Symposium” and gave a keynote speech on “Strategic Air Intelligence in Confronting New and Non-Organized Threats.”

He had been to the second edition of the Egyptian Defense Exposition (EDEX), which was held in Cairo between November and December 2021 and featured ten Indian defence companies showcasing their cutting-edge goods.

Additionally, a force of the Indian Air Force, consisting of three Su-30MKI and two C-17 aircraft, is now taking part in the month-long “Tactical Leadership Programme” that started on June 24, 2022, in Egypt.

The Indian stealth frigate INS TABAR will visit Alexandria on June 27–28, 2021, and September 3–4, 2021, as part of a joint drill between the Indian and Egyptian Navies.

The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron ships, the INS TIR, INS SUJATA, and CGS SARATHI, took part in a maritime partnership exercise (MPX) with Egyptian Naval ships on May 4 in Safaga.

As part of LOKAYAN 22, the Indian Navy’s sailing training ship INS TARANGINI also made a port call in Alexandria from May 17 to May 20, 2022.

Along with cross-training exercises, it also often interacted with the Egyptian Navy and hosted cultural and athletic activities.