This is the first time the Egyptian Army forces marched in the Republic Day parade bearing testimony to India-Egypt long-standing relationship.
The Egyptian Army contingent was one of the many firsts of the 74th Republic Day. Egypt will be the Republic Day 2023 guest country. As the parade began, 144 Egyptian army soldiers marched down the Kartavya path, led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed abdel Fattah El Kharasawy.
Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is the chief guest of the 74th Republic Day celebration.
This is also the first time an Egyptian leader has invited as the Republic Day’s chief guest. El-Sisi elected Egypt’s sixth President in May 2014. He graduated from Egypt’s Military Academy in 1977 and named Director of Intelligence in 2010. He appointed Minister of Defense and Commander of the Egyptian Armed Forces in August 2012, a position he held until his resignation in March 2014 to run for President.
El-Sisi had met with PM Modi the day before and discussed increasing bilateral trade to $12 billion over the next five years. The two leaders also held extensive discussions on how to strengthen the food and pharmaceutical supply chains that have impacted by COVID and the Ukraine conflict.
The Prime Minister told the media after his meeting with Egypt’s president that India and Egypt concerned about the global spread of terrorism.
“We are unanimous in the opinion that terrorism is the most serious security threat to humanity. Both countries also agree that concerted action is necessary to end cross-border terrorism. And for this, together we will continue to try to alert the international community,” PM Modi said.
“In the last few years, there has been a significant increase in joint exercise training and capacity building between our armies. We have also decided in today’s meeting to further strengthen cooperation between our defense industries, and enhance the exchange of information and intelligence related to counter-terrorism,” he said.
