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Military, Maritime & Defence Industry Ties Strengthened
Anytime News Network | Pooja Srivastava
India and Egypt held the 11th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting in Cairo from April 20 to 22, 2026, marking a significant step toward deepening bilateral defence cooperation. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Amitabh Prasad, while senior officials from Egypt’s Ministry of Defence and armed forces represented their side.
Both nations conducted a comprehensive review of progress since the last meeting and agreed on an ambitious defence cooperation plan for 2026–27. The roadmap focuses on expanding structured military engagements, enhancing joint training exchanges, boosting maritime security collaboration, increasing the scale and complexity of military exercises, and strengthening cooperation in defence production and technology.
India showcased its rapidly growing defence manufacturing capabilities, highlighting that production has exceeded $20 billion, with exports worth nearly $4 billion to over 100 countries. Both sides emphasized developing a defence industry collaboration framework, with a focus on co-development and co-production opportunities.
A key highlight of the meeting was the launch of Navy-to-Navy staff talks. India’s role in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean Region was appreciated, along with its contributions through the Information Fusion Centre in enhancing maritime security.
The Indian delegation also met Lieutenant General Amar Abdel Rahman Sakar, Commander of the Egyptian Air Force, and expressed gratitude for the growing cooperation between the two air forces. Additionally, the delegation paid tribute to Indian soldiers at the Heliopolis War Memorial.
Defence ties between the two countries have strengthened significantly since the signing of an MoU in 2022 and their elevation to a strategic partnership in 2023. The meeting reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional stability and long-term collaboration.
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