India Egypt Joint Defence Committee Meets in Cairo

27 Apr 2026 CW Team

The plan focuses on expanding structured military interaction mechanisms, strengthening joint training exchanges, enhancing maritime security cooperation and increasing the scope and complexity of military exercises. It also emphasises collaboration in defence production and technology, with both parties agreeing to develop a defence industry cooperation plan and to explore opportunities for co-development and co-production. The Indian delegation presented the rapidly growing manufacturing capabilities of the Indian defence industry and outlined production and export figures.

The release referred to United States dollar (US $) figures showing production has crossed US $20 bn and exports are about US $4 bn to over 100 countries, signalling a maturing industrial base that could underpin ventures. The inaugural navy-to-navy staff talks took place on the sidelines of the meeting and discussions covered freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean region and the role of India's Information Fusion Centre in promoting maritime security. The delegation also met the Commander of the Egyptian Air Force, Lieutenant General Amr Abdel Rahman Saqr and expressed appreciation for close air force cooperation.

Participants paid homage at the Heliopolis War Memorial to Indian personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during the First and Second World Wars and the meeting reiterated that bilateral ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2023. The memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of defence signed in September 2022 was noted as a major milestone and delegates agreed the meeting reaffirmed mutual commitment to regional security and stability. The discussions were described as productive and intended to strengthen defence relations.

The India-Egypt Joint Defence Committee held its eleventh meeting in Cairo from April 20 to 22, 2026, to advance bilateral defence cooperation and strategic ties. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Shri Amitabh Prasad and included senior representatives from the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Forces; the Egyptian delegation was headed by senior officials from the Defence Forces and the Ministry of Defence. Both sides reviewed progress since the previous meeting and agreed on a forward-looking defence cooperation plan for 2026-27. The plan focuses on expanding structured military interaction mechanisms, strengthening joint training exchanges, enhancing maritime security cooperation and increasing the scope and complexity of military exercises. It also emphasises collaboration in defence production and technology, with both parties agreeing to develop a defence industry cooperation plan and to explore opportunities for co-development and co-production. The Indian delegation presented the rapidly growing manufacturing capabilities of the Indian defence industry and outlined production and export figures. The release referred to United States dollar (US $) figures showing production has crossed US $20 bn and exports are about US $4 bn to over 100 countries, signalling a maturing industrial base that could underpin ventures. The inaugural navy-to-navy staff talks took place on the sidelines of the meeting and discussions covered freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean region and the role of India's Information Fusion Centre in promoting maritime security. The delegation also met the Commander of the Egyptian Air Force, Lieutenant General Amr Abdel Rahman Saqr and expressed appreciation for close air force cooperation. Participants paid homage at the Heliopolis War Memorial to Indian personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during the First and Second World Wars and the meeting reiterated that bilateral ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2023. The memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of defence signed in September 2022 was noted as a major milestone and delegates agreed the meeting reaffirmed mutual commitment to regional security and stability. The discussions were described as productive and intended to strengthen defence relations.

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