India and Egypt join forces to combat religious radicalization

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Egypt, India and Egypt joined hands to counter religious radicalization.

In an effort to strengthen bilateral ties, PM Modi personally signed a "Strategic Partnership" document with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, marking a new chapter in relations between the two nations. This visit holds immense importance as it marks the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt since 1997.

While the public focus of the visit centered around economic cooperation and Global South collaboration, India's primary objective was to engage with Egypt, which serves as the headquarters of the Arab League and is considered a leader in the Arab world. The timing of the visit is significant, as tensions persist among Sunni Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Shia Iran, and Türkiye (Turkey) over the leadership of the Islamic world.

Despite previous visits by PM Modi to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Iran, and Türkiye President Recep Erdogan's visit to India, engaging with Egypt was crucial to bridge the existing gap. Both India and Egypt share a common goal of countering religious radicalization, with President Sisi demonstrating unwavering resolve against the Muslim Brotherhood and its radical affiliates throughout the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia and UAE have also banned the Muslim Brotherhood and designated its affiliates as terrorist groups. However, countries like Qatar, Kuwait, and even Shia Iran maintain a close relationship with this pan-Islamic network.