To consolidate security and defence aspects, both sides signed MoU on cooperation in the field of defence, enhancing defence cooperation across all sectors of mutual interest

Photo Credit : @rajnathsingh/twitter,

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh holds talk with Egyptian Defence Minister General Mohamed Zaki in Cairo on Monday. He is on a two-day official visit to Egypt. 

During the meeting, both sides focused on strengthening defence ties and also reached on consensus to enhance the joint military exercises and exchange of personnel for training, especially in the field of counter-insurgency. 

Both ministers also agreed on expanding cooperation between the defence industries of India and Egypt in a time-bound manner and exchanged views on regional security and acknowledged the contribution of India and Egypt to peace and stability in the world.

Singh tweeted, “Had an excellent meeting with Egypt’s defence minister, General Mohamed Zaki in Cairo. We had wide-ranging discussions on several initiatives to further expand bilateral defence engagements. The signing of the MoU on defence cooperation adds new impetus and synergy to our relations.”

Later, the defence minister met with the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and invited his Egyptian counterpart to the India-Africa Defence Dialogue and IOR Defence Ministers’ Conclave, which is held next month.

Egypt had shown interest in buying military platforms from India and considering indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) for its fighter requirements.