India’s 75th Republic Day will host the sixth president of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. With a background in the armed forces, Sisi became president of the country in 2013 after ousting Mohammed Morsi from power. Sisi was elected president in 2013 and then re-elected in 2018.
The selection of Chief Guests
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States function on self-serving interests; their survival and functioning are paramount and everything else comes secondary. A successful State relies upon- among other necessities viz. Police, military, the justice system- a robust foreign policy too. And Foreign policy is the realm of diplomacy where talks can either flourish or deteriorate relations between states.
The diplomatic gestures between states are not only verbal but symbolic too.
And the selection of chief guests for the Republic Day celebrations is both.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is careful in considering the Chief Guest of the Republic Day as this choice will reflect the relationship between the two countries and exhibit their alliance and partnership to the world- economic, diplomatic, historical, cultural, and strategic.
The other important consideration of selection is the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and states that have been a part of the movement.
The Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement was a superstate organisation formed in 1961(the first conference of NAM was held in Yugoslavia; in 1951 the NAM was developing as a thought at the Asia-Africa Bandung conference in Indonesia).
The purpose of NAM as mentioned in its Havana Declaration of 1979 states,’ the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries. NAM strove to resist all forms of colonialism, imperialism and racism.
It also wished to carve a separate identity for itself as a body of states that did not subscribe to the bifurcated world led by the USA and the USSR: Capitalist and Communist.
Egypt and India
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NAM is an important modern cornerstone in the relationship between Egypt and India. India under President Nehru and Egypt under President Nasser came together to create the Non-Aligned Movement. The other important figures were Josip Broz of Yugoslavia, Sukarno of Indonesia, and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.
The selection of Chief Guest- II
Going back to the MEA and the selection of chief guests, the MEA after thorough preliminary considerations reaches out to the Prime Minister’s office and then to the President for the approval of the Chief Guest and once selected from the list of shortlisted dignitaries for the event, ambassadors to the prospective country of the Chief guest, find out about the availability of the guest.
The Indian Chief of Protocol (CoP) and his counterpart in the concerned state develop a comprehensive plan that outlines the logistics, security, and medical plans. The entire process is then meticulously carried out.
India-Egypt relations: a brief history
This year’s selection of the annual Republic Day Chief Guest does not only underscores the ancient relations between the two oldest civilizations but also carries forward the tradition in contemporary times.
The Embassy of India in Cairo describes the relationship between the states: ‘India and Egypt, two of the world’s oldest civilizations, have enjoyed a history of close contact from ancient times. Ashoka’s edicts refer to his relations with Egypt under Ptolemy-II. In modern times, Mahatma Gandhi and Saad Zaghloul shared common goals on the independence of their countries, a relationship that was to blossom into an exceptionally close friendship between President Nasser and Prime Minister Nehru, leading to a Friendship Treaty between the two countries in 1955.’
Bilateral mechanisms
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The countries enjoy a close working relationship together that is evident through the 11th round of Foreign Office Consultations held in Delhi in 2015; the first Joint Working Group on Cyber Issues was held in 2016; the 4th Joint Committee Meeting on S&T held in New Delhi in April 2017; the 2nd ISRO-NARSS JWG was held in Cairo in November 2017; the 7th round of Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) held in March 2018. The 8th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) in 2018 and the 9th JDC held in Cairo in 2019.
‘After a gap of over an year, the bilateral mechanisms restarted on 3rd March 2021 with JWG on Trade and Investment being held by videocon. The 5th Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology was held on 5th October 2021 in virtual mode, focusing on agriculture, nanotechnology, biotechnology and renewable energy. 1st JWG on Drugs & Pharmaceuticals was held on 14th March 2022 and on 11th April 2022, 1st JWG on Health & Medicine was held. There are plans to hold a Joint Working Group on Environment as well.’ the Embassy website mentions.
The bonhomie between PM Modi and President Sisi
On April 17, 2020, PM Narendra Modi and President Sisi spoke on the phone to discuss efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus. On April 26, 2020, they spoke once more to wish each other a happy Eid-ul-Fitr. During the COVID-19 issue, the PM thanked Egyptian authorities for their assistance in ensuring the safety and welfare of Indian nationals living in Egypt and reiterated his desire to see President Sisi as soon as possible.
In 2021, during the second wave of COVID-19, President Sisi extended his condolences and support to the people and government of India. On May 9, 2021, Egypt sent three aircraft carrying medical supplies to India. Additionally, the Embassy of India executed a contract with M/s EVA Pharma, Egypt, to buy 300,000 doses of REMDESEVIR, which were delivered well ahead of time.
