The importance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Cairo comes at a very important and sensitive time in Egyptian history, coinciding with the start of popular celebrations for the success of the June 30 revolution in Egypt, and the beginning of a new phase in Egyptian foreign policy after the overthrow of the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood during the popular June 30 revolution in Egypt, then President “Abdel Fattah El-Sisi” took over the reins of power in the country, and within the framework of India’s endeavor to consolidate aspects of cooperation with Cairo and President “El-Sisi”, inaugurating a new era of friendship between the two sides after getting rid of the rule of the terrorist Brotherhood, with the launch of a joint effort between Cairo and New Delhi. During the era of President El-Sisi, represented in adopting the anti-terrorism agenda, which became one of the main goals of Egyptian foreign policy during the era of “El-Sisi” in the post-June 30 revolution. The Egyptian vision is compatible with the Indian side and the international community in the need to get rid of the dominance of terrorist extremist groups, foremost of which is the banned terrorist Brotherhood. President El-Sisi presented an integrated vision for combating terrorism at the international level in all his speeches and international meetings, by stressing that the necessary condition that provides an incubating environment for these terrorist organizations is the disintegration and destabilization of state institutions, and that filling the vacuum in which the terrorism of the banned terrorist group grows and spreads, it entails exerting efforts to restore and strengthen the unity, independence and efficiency of state institutions, which is what New Delhi and Cairo are compatible with. Hence the agreement of Egypt and India to “enhance cooperation in the security field to confront terrorism and violence, and to give impetus to more coordination in the security field”, and their joint assertion that “there is no development without security stability”. Hence the Egyptian-Indian cooperation in getting rid of the danger of these extremist organizations and restricting the movement of the terrorist Brotherhood group in Egypt, the region and the world, through India’s participation with the Egyptian side in (the second meeting of the joint working group between Egypt and India to combat international terrorism) in January 2018, with a full Egyptian-Indian understanding of all the terrorist dangers that the two countries are exposed to, as part of their efforts to combat terrorist organizations that threaten international security and stability, foremost of which is the danger of the terrorist organization of the banned Brotherhood.
A joint Egyptian-Indian vision was developed to combat extremism and terrorism, represented by the Indian and Egyptian countries’ rejection of the spread of terrorism around the world, foremost of which is the banned Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and India alike, as well as the agreement of the two parties to zero tolerance for terrorism and all those who encourage and support it. They finance it or provide it with safe havens, while promoting the values of peace, tolerance and inclusiveness, and making concerted efforts to combat terrorism and its ideologies. Finally, it was agreed between the Indian and Egyptian parties that India support Egypt in the fight against terrorism by strengthening interaction between the National Security Councils in Egypt and India, to stop the danger of spreading those banned extremist terrorist organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood, with their extensions, entanglements and international relations in Egypt and the region, all the way to the borders and inside India, to spread chaos and turmoil in India, Egypt and around the world.
For this, India encourages all Egyptian efforts in combating the terrorism of the banned Brotherhood and other such extremist organizations, with the Indian emphasis on the pivotal and decisive Egyptian role in combating and defeating the threat of terrorism, which casts a shadow of security and stability in Egypt and on regional and global security as a whole. There is a common Egyptian-Indian vision regarding efforts to combat terrorism and extremist ideology, in light of the real threat that this phenomenon represents to efforts to achieve development in the region and the world, which came with the assurance of President “El-Sisi” to his Indian counterpart “Modi” and all Indian officials over the course of previous meetings. It is necessary for Egypt and India to join forces with the international community to block this scourge at all levels, while appreciating the Indian side for the comprehensive approach that Egypt followed during the era of President “El-Sisi” in the war on terrorism, on top of which is the terrorism of the banned terrorist group of the Muslim Brotherhood, by addressing the roots of the problem, by supporting economic and social development and combating extremist ideology that leads to terrorism, while making sure to spread a culture of tolerance and coexistence between religions and different cultures, which is the same vision adopted by India, its leaders and officials.
Here, India is reassured by those relentless and careful Egyptian steps in combating terrorism and getting rid of the danger of the banned Brotherhood, with its implications for achieving economic stability in Egypt. Therefore, the Indian desire to enhance its investments in Cairo comes directly after the success of the June 30 revolution in Egypt in 2013. Believing on the Indian side that the situation in Egypt has become more stable after getting rid of the threat of terrorists. Here, President El-Sisi considers New Delhi as one of the most important emerging and developing economies in the world, and hence the importance of the steps taken by Egypt to increase rapprochement and cooperation with it. Especially with Indian Prime Minister Modi’s praise of the successful development experience that Egypt is currently witnessing under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in all fields and the major national projects being implemented, with the Indian assertion of their keenness to support Egypt’s development efforts and support it in all fields through the exchange of Experience and joint investment between the two countries. Indian investments currently have a great opportunity to be present in the Egyptian market to benefit from the modern infrastructure in Egypt and to gain access to African and emerging markets, especially in light of the free trade agreements that bring Egypt together with various regional economic blocs, with the popular welcome in Egypt to cooperate with India and increase its investments and business activities in Cairo.
At a time when India looks at Egypt as a beacon of balance for the Middle East region, especially after the success of the June 30 revolution in Egypt and getting rid of the threat of terrorists, given that Cairo has a pivotal and necessary role for India in the international and regional systems that is appreciated by the international community. India also looks at its relations with Egypt, considering that the challenges facing developing countries make the option of partnership and cooperation the most beneficial option before it with major developing countries, such as: China and India, as it is one of the most important models of constructive cooperation between the countries of the South. The importance of Cairo for New Delhi comes in view of their reliance on a common history with regard to the struggle for national liberation, and there was a tangible impact of the partnership between the late leaders “Gamal Abdel Nasser” and “Jawaharlal Nehru” in establishing the Non-Aligned Movement, and in efforts to reformulate and shape the foundations of the world order in a manner More justice that protects the interests of developing countries and meets the aspirations of their people for a better future. While the revolutionary leader in Egypt, “Saad Zaghloul”, led the campaign of civil disobedience in Egypt against the British occupier, and played a major role in the Egyptian revolution in 1919, which eventually resulted in Britain’s unilateral declaration of Egypt’s independence in February 1922, “Mahatma Gandhi” took over On the other side, the nationalist thought opposed to British colonialism, in the Indian National Congress in 1921, using the weapon of non-violent resistance, which resulted in that successful campaign that led to India’s independence from British rule in August 1947. Here, international observers view India as the next engine of global economic growth after China, and believe that at some point it will surpass Japan to become the third largest economy in the world, to compete with America and China, which occupy the first and second economic positions. Here, India can benefit from Egyptian natural gas in the next stage, which helps in greatly developing political and economic relations at this stage. The cooperation, convergence, influence and leverage between Cairo and New Delhi has become multiple and divergent, in addition to the political and economic aspects. It has expanded in the recent period during the era of President “El-Sisi” to other fields and sectors such as tourism and culture. Then the phenomenon of climate change came to be a new arena for cooperation between Cairo and New Delhi. It was expressed in several joint meetings between the two parties. India is based on Egypt’s vision and the priorities of the agenda of the International Climate Conference “COP 27” in Sharm El-Sheikh, with the joint Egyptian-Indian emphasis on the importance of advancing collective action on the climate agenda and transforming commitments into actual implementation on the ground. Egypt and India are also partners in the International Solar Alliance, and they are global role models for action against climate change.
Accordingly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Cairo and his meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, President “Abdel Fattah El-Sisi”, comes within the framework of India’s endeavor to establish a new phase of cooperation and joint construction that is based on a basis of dialogue, understanding and exchange between India and Egypt, at the same time In which Egypt is keen to open up to the world and extend its hand to cooperate with major developing countries such as China, India, Brazil, South Africa, and others in a way that achieves common interest and enhances world peace. This would also strengthen the strategy of Egyptian foreign orientations towards the countries of the East in the current period, especially since the crises The current international situation has proven the importance of establishing and building a new global economic strategy base, as the unipolar era has ended, and the global economic situation has changed significantly. Hence, Egyptian President “El-Sisi“ realizes that “economic pluralism in the world” has become desired and its steps are very tangible, at a time when the inflation crises overwhelmed and greatly affected the global economic system. The approach of the Egyptian state has become to balance its political and economic relations with all countries, achieve benefit for the Egyptian citizen and people, and reduce the pressure on the dollar reserve significantly, through a new approach in the economic policy of the Egyptian state represented in opening new horizons and economic and investment partnerships with the emerging developing global change, which is headed by China, India and other powers around the world.
