India, Egypt Hold 11Th JDC Meeting To Strengthen Defence Ties

(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Apr 23 (KNN) The 11th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting between India and Egypt was held in Cairo from April 20 to 22, 2026, focusing on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and charting a roadmap for future engagement.

The Indian delegation was led by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), and included senior representatives from the Ministry of Defence and the armed forces, while the Egyptian side was represented by senior officials from its defence establishment.

Both sides reviewed progress since the previous meeting and agreed on a defence cooperation plan for 2026–27.

The plan focuses on expanding structured military interactions, strengthening joint training exchanges, enhancing maritime security cooperation, increasing the scope and complexity of military exercises, and promoting collaboration in defence production and technology.

During the meeting, India highlighted the growing capabilities of its defence manufacturing sector, noting that production has crossed USD 20 billion, with exports of around USD 4 billion to over 100 countries.

The two sides agreed to work towards a dedicated defence industry cooperation plan, with co-development and co-production emerging as key areas of focus.

On the sidelines, the inaugural Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks were held where India outlined the role of the Indian Navy in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean region and highlighted the contribution of the Information Fusion Centre in maritime security.

The Indian delegation also met Lieutenant General Amr Abdel Rahman Saqr, Commander of the Egyptian Air Force, and acknowledged the ongoing cooperation between the two Air Forces.

India and Egypt's defence ties have strengthened in recent years, including the signing of a defence cooperation MoU in 2022 and the elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2023.

The latest JDC meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to deepen defence engagement and contribute to regional security and stability.

(KNN Bureau)

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