India a vital strategic partner, says Egypt president; calls for stronger trade via Suez Canal

As I visit New Delhi to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit, I congratulate India's assumption of the 2026 presidency, and commend its efforts to foster cooperation among member states at a time when the world is grappling geopolitical and economic challenges.

India is a vital strategic partner and an influential nation on both regional and global stages. Egypt, too, is well-positioned to play an active role in this partnership, thanks to its unique geographical location, modern infrastructure, extensive network of ports and transport links, and deep-rooted economic and trade ties with the Arab world, Africa, and Europe. These advantages provide a solid foundation for boosting trade and regional connectivity.

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From this perspective, Egypt welcomes any initiatives that contribute to strengthening economic ties and opening new avenues for trade and investment, particularly through the Suez Canal and its economic zone. Global trade prosperity is achieved through integration and creation of networks that are efficient, resilient, and adaptable. Such networks meet the global economy's growing needs, and grant Indian companies access to Egypt as a pivotal hub for global trade and value chains, as well as a regional center for energy transit, logistics, and connectivity.

We also look forward to boosting local manufacturing and technology transfer, and to advancing cooperation in sectors of shared priority like pharma, electronics, auto components, RE, green hydrogen, and IT. We also seek to strengthen links among universities, research institutions, and innovation centres, thereby providing the youth of both countries with greater opportunities for learning, creativity, and participation in building the economy of the future.

The African continent offers promising opportunities for Egyptian-Indian cooperation that should be guided by the priorities of African countries and the needs of their peoples. It should contribute to building their productive capacities, expanding their access to tech and knowledge, and supporting their efforts to achieve sustainable development.

Egypt's accession to BRICS in 2024 opened broader avenues for cooperation with India, and other member states. Its membership in the New Development Bank has also contributed to diversifying the instruments available to support developmental and economic cooperation. Egypt and India view BRICS as a platform for cooperation, development, and dialogue, rather than a framework directed against any country or group of countries.

At a time of escalating international competition and polarisation, Egypt maintains the policy of strategic balance as the guiding principle of its foreign policy-a policy based on the independence of national decision-making, diversification of partnerships, and establishment of balanced relations with various powers guided by mutual respect and shared interests.

In this spirit, Egypt continues to exert every possible effort to halt escalation, end conflicts, and restore security and stability in West Asia. It has consistently affirmed that diplomacy and peaceful political solutions are the path to resolving crises, and that comprehensive regional dialogue.

The Palestinian cause remains at the heart of any lasting peace in West Asia. It is not possible to speak of maintaining international peace and security without achieving a just and comprehensive settlement that restores the legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people-foremost among them the right to establish an independent state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

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Egypt also attaches particular importance to the security and stability of the Horn of Africa, which it considers a direct extension of its national security, as well as to the Red Sea, a pivotal maritime corridor for international trade. Egypt also rejects any attempts to militarise the Red Sea.

We look forward to a partnership with India that achieves greater development and prosperity for our two peoples, enhances peace and stability in our respective regions, and contributes to building a more just and balanced international order.

(The writer is president of Egypt)