Round The World
New Delhi, 30 June 2023
Modi In Egypt
A HISTORIC VISIT
By Dr D.K. Giri
(Secretary General, Assn for Democratic Socialism)
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Egypt was somewhat overshadowed by the
‘landmark’ official visit to the United States. In fact, his visit to Cairo was
no less important as it paved the way for both India and Egypt to consolidate
their footprints in their respective regions of influence. Modi himself
tweeted, “My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to
India-Egypt relations and benefit the peoples of our nations”. By accounts of
many observers of India-Africa relations, Prime Minister’s characterisation of
the visit turns out to be true.
Relations
between India and Egypt were growing since New Delhi invited the Egyptian
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as the Guest of Honour on 74th
Republic Day; an honour accorded for the first time to an Egyptian Head of
State. New Delhi also is engaging Egypt around the G-20 presidency to
participate as a ‘guest country’. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi would be
visiting New Delhi to attend the G-20 Summit in September.
Historically,
India-Egypt relations go back to late 1950s as both countries were the
co-founders along with Yugoslavia of Non-Alignment Movement. It is another
matter that NAM is no more active and vibrant as it was in its initial days.
India is trying to re-calibrate NAM as ‘multiple engagement’. Whether this too
is a viable strategy is a debate we will continue to have in this column and
elsewhere.
The
highlights of Modi’s visit to Egypt certainly mark a significant step ahead in
India-Egypt bilateral relations. Modi’s visit was his first to Egypt after over
two decades by an Indian Prime Minister. Second, this visit consolidates the
strategic partnership that evolved during the visit of President El-Sisi last
January. This renewed partnership has immense regional and global implications
for both the countries. It offers Egypt a new option as its voice in regional
affairs like Palestine, Ethiopia and other African countries declines over the
years.
As it
looks for new partners beyond the continent, India for their historical ties,
promises great potential owing to her growing stature in world politics. In an
interview to a leading daily in New Delhi, the Egyptian Ambassador to India
called the visits of his President and Indian Prime Minister as ‘game
changers’. He qualified the epithet, “We can reinforce each others’ position on
the international front…. we are offering India a very promising opportunity of
taking Egypt as a springboard to three regions – Europe, the Middle-East, and
the whole of Africa.”
Indeed,
New Delhi could use Egypt as a launching pad certainly for MENA – Middle East
and North Africa. Note that Egypt is the most populous country in MENA. The
proposed economic free zone for India in the Suez Canal which lends a crucial
geo-strategic significance to Egypt could be an invaluable route for Indian
commerce. Twelve per cent of global trade passes through the Suez Canal. It has
been in international attention since the Anglo-French invasion in 1956 which
was known as Suez crisis. The crisis occurred as Egyptian President Abdel
Nasser nationalised the Canal and became a turning point in the foreign
policies of Britain, Egypt and India.
Under
international pressure, particularly from the US, Britain had to withdraw its
forces; its Prime Minister Anthony Eden had to resign; a year later, Egypt was
granted the ownership and sovereignty of the Suez Canal. India faced the
dilemma, as at the same time, Soviet Union had invaded Hungary. To recall a
lesser known fact, while Indian Prime Minister Pandit Nehru was critical of
Anglo-French attack on Suez Canal, he kept mum on the Soviet invasion of
Hungary. This silence exposed the Non-Aligned status of India. That is history.
But we must learn the lesson that, non-alignment, its current euphemism
‘strategic autonomy’, is perhaps not a viable option in an inter-dependent
world.
To
capture the significant events of Modi’s visit to Cairo, the agreement to
elevate the bilateralism to a strategic partnership was signed. This will
facilitate Egypt’s attempt for a self-reliant defence industry as it leans on
India’s defence capability offering an alternative to usual dependence on
western and China/Russia. Egypt’s interest in acquiring the Tejas LCA Mk-IA
aircraft from India opens space for collaboration in aviation sector. Over all,
with its network of defence alliance with African countries, Cairo could offer
a pivotal gateway to India to expand her defence capability and markets.
Both the
leaders discussed ways and means to deepen the partnership, covering areas in
trade, investment, defence, security, renewable energy, cultural and
people-to-people ties. In addition to the strategic partnership agreement,
three MoUs were signed in the fields of agriculture, archaeology, and
antiquities.
The
second important highlight is the Egypt’s highest civilian award ‘the Order of
Nile’ conferred on Prime Minister Modi. Instituted in 1959, the Order of Nile
is awarded to Heads of States, Crown Princess, and Vice Presidents who offer Egypt
or humanity invaluable services. The Order of Nile is a pure gold collar
comprising three-square gold units, each having powerful symbolic meanings. The
first unit signifies the idea of protecting the state against evils, the second
one resembles prosperity and happiness brought by the river Nile and the third
one refers to wealth and endurance. Although Prime Minister Modi has received
twelve other highest State honours, this one manifests the importance accorded
by Egypt to India.
Cairo
has also created an India Unit, a group of high-level ministers constituted by
El-CC in March to enhance India-Egypt relations. Modi’s first official
engagement in Cairo was the meeting with this India Unit. Members of this Unit
led by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, were present during the discussion on
the strategic partnership and deepening relations in other sectors. Institution
of a specific India Unit indicates the priority Cairo attaches to India-Egypt
ties.
Another
highlight is Modi’s visit to Heliopolis War Cemetery to pay respects to Indian
soldiers who laid their lives during WW-I. Modi visited the Heliopolis
Commonwealth War Cemetery and offered tributes to Indian soldiers who bravely
fought and sacrificed their lives in Egypt and Palestine during the First World
War. The Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial commemorates nearly 4,000 Indian
soldiers who died in the war.
Modi
also visited the 11th century Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo which has a
historic connection with Dawoodi Bohra Muslims who are a sizeable community in
India. Modi met the yoga practitioners, the author Tarek Heggy and the top
businessmen Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company and visited,
escorted by Egyptian prime Minister, the pyramid of Giza in outskirts of Cairo.
This pyramid was included in Seven Wonders of the World.
The
visit is hailed by both sides as a grand success. There were talks of direct
flights between Cairo and New Delhi. With the launch of such direct connection,
along with the possibility of having an industrial zone for India in Egypt,
among other things, will really solidify the relations and take them to new
horizons, said the Egyptian Ambassador to India. We have no room for divergence
with such an optimistic and realistic affirmation.---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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