The 11th meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Defence Committee (JDC) was held in Cairo from April 20 to 22, with both countries agreeing to further deepen their defence cooperation and chart a roadmap for future engagement.
The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Amitabh Prasad and included senior officials from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the armed forces. The Egyptian side was represented by senior officials from its Ministry of Defence and Defence Forces.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed progress made since the last JDC and outlined a forward-looking defence cooperation plan for 2026-27.
The MEA said that the discussions focused on expanding structured military interactions, enhancing joint training exchanges, strengthening maritime security cooperation, and increasing the scale and complexity of bilateral military exercises. Cooperation in defence production and technology also emerged as a key priority area.
India highlighted the growing capabilities of its defence manufacturing sector, noting that production has crossed USD 20 billion, with exports worth around USD 4 billion reaching over 100 countries. Both sides agreed to explore opportunities for co-development and co-production, with defence industry collaboration increasingly becoming a central pillar of bilateral ties.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the inaugural Navy-to-Navy staff talks were also held, where India showcased the role of its navy in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean region. The importance of India’s Information Fusion Centre in enhancing maritime security was also highlighted.
The Indian delegation also met the Commander of the Egyptian Air Force, Lieutenant General Amr Abdel Rahman Saqr, and appreciated the growing cooperation between the air forces of the two countries.
As part of the visit, the delegation paid tribute at the Heliopolis War Memorial, honouring Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the World Wars.
The MEA said that India and Egypt have steadily strengthened defence ties in recent years, particularly after signing a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation in September 2022. Bilateral relations were further elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2023, and the latest JDC meeting reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to regional security and stability.
