Diplomacy

India and Egypt have moved to expand their defence partnership after the 11th Joint Defence

According to the official release, the exercise is designed to improve interoperability, cohesion, and the exchange of best practices between the two navies. The visit began with a ceremonial welcome by the Sri Lanka Navy, and Commander Sailesh Tyagi, Commanding Officer of INS Nireekshak, also met Rear Admiral SJ Kumara, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Area, to discuss matters of mutual interest.

A major outcome of the meeting was the signing and exchange of two key documents: a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training. The Indian side described the visit as a sign of growing trust and momentum in the bilateral relationship, which has gathered pace in recent years.

During the trip, General Chauhan held talks with Luke Pollard, where discussions centred on the changing nature of global conflict and the need for closer military collaboration. Senior officials from both sides participated, reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening bilateral defence ties.

At the same time, India renewed its call for long-pending UNSC reforms during Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN), pointing out that the current composition—especially in terms of permanent membership—fails to represent developing nations. It advocated for greater inclusion of the Global South and noted alignment between its position and the African model for reform.

Rajnath Singh praised Germany’s strong industrial base and its “Mittelstand” ecosystem, while also pointing to India’s growing network of startups and private enterprises that are strengthening the country’s defence capabilities.