For the primary time within the illustrious historical past of the Kartavya Path, an Egyptian army contingent marched throughout its size whereas saluting the dais because the nation’s military took half in India’s 74th Republic Day parade within the presence of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a present of sturdy diplomatic ties between the 2 nations.
“We’ve the pleasure of taking part in India. That is the primary time we’re visiting India. It’s a nice nation with civilisation as previous as ours in Egypt. We each are previous civilisations. We’ve been right here for the previous couple of days and practised with our associates within the Indian Military. Our relationship is powerful, and we love supporting one another,” mentioned Egyptian Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy, who led the contingent, whereas addressing the media on Wednesday.
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The Egyptian army contingent led by Colonel El Kharasawy, consisting of 144 troopers, which represents the primary branches of the Egyptian armed forces, marched together with Indian contingents on Thursday.
The Egyptian contingent on the parade consisted of a 144-strong army contingent and a 12-member band that marched behind them. Two officers behind the contingent chief carried a ceremonial sword every, and an officer held the Egyptian flag.
The march of the Egyptian contingent and the go to by the Egyptian President are seen as an effort to bolster current ties between India and Egypt. The 2 international locations have had strong defence ties because the Sixties.
India took half in Egypt’s plane business within the Sixties, following an understanding between then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru after which Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. The international locations collaborated in growing the Helwan HA-300 fighter jet.
As per data on globalsecurity.org, each the international locations signed a contract in September 1964 for the event of the E-300 engine. Indian Air Drive pilots additionally skilled Egyptian pilots from the Sixties till 1984.
Just lately, the first-ever joint train between the particular forces of each armies, named “Train Cyclone-I”, happened in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on January 14, 2023. The 14-day-long train aimed to strengthen defence cooperation between the 2 nations with a give attention to sharing skilled expertise and interoperability of Particular Forces in desert terrain whereas endeavor counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, raids and different particular operations.
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The train, carried out within the deserts of Rajasthan, engages each the contingents to progress in particular forces expertise corresponding to Sniping, Fight Free Fall, Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Goal Designation, sharing of data on weapons, tools, improvements, techniques, methods and procedures.
Together with long-standing army ties, India and Egypt on Wednesday elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership as nicely. The 2 international locations will endeavour to take joint motion on politics, safety, defence, vitality, financial system, cross-border terrorism and radicalisation.
PM Modi, after deliberating with the Egyptian President, mentioned, ”We’ve determined to raise our bilateral relations with Egypt to a strategic partnership. Beneath the India-Egypt Strategic Partnership, we’ll develop a long-term framework for larger cooperation within the fields of politics, safety, economics and science.”
PM Modi additionally introduced that the 2 international locations have additionally determined to take the bilateral commerce between their international locations to $12 billion within the subsequent 5 years.
As per the Ministry of Exterior Affairs, the bilateral commerce between India and Egypt reached USD 7.26 billion in 2021-22. The bilateral commerce settlement between the 2 international locations has been operational since March 1978.
The Egyptian President will conclude his go to to India and depart for Egypt on January 27.
On Republic Day, one of many central themes Nari Shakti (girls energy) was exhibited by the armed forces in addition to by the Border Safety Drive (BSF), and Central Reserve Police Drive (CRPF).
Girls took half in BSF’s Camel Contingent and a staff of “Daredevils” Motor Cycle Riders from the Corps of Alerts was co-led by a lady officer within the parade, for the primary time ever.
In the meantime, the Indian Military mounted columns of 61 cavalry, 9 mechanised columns, six marching contingents, and a fly-past by helicopters of military aviation.
27 tableaux of assorted States, Union Territories, Departments, and Armed Forces have been showcased on the Republic Day.