In 1956, as British and French troops stormed towards the Suez Canal and Israeli armour rolled throughout the Sinai, India responded by condemning the Anglo-French-Israeli navy motion and supporting Egypt’s proper to regulate the canal. 5 years later, in 1961, as Indian troops marched to liberate Goa (then a Portuguese colony), Egypt returned the favour by blocking Portuguese reinforcements from passing via the Suez Canal.
As the 2 above examples illustrate, New Delhi and Cairo have had sturdy ties for many years. Each international locations, after shaking off the shackles of British rule, have been instrumental in establishing the Non-Aligned Motion (NAM), which opposed aligning with both the US or the USSR in the middle of the Chilly Battle. At this time, their partnership stays strong, significantly in commerce and defence. This enduring relationship with India could possibly be one purpose behind Egypt’s hesitation to affix the Mecca Pact.
The Mecca Pact refers back to the tripartite collective defence settlement signed between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia earlier this month on August 7. Proper from the get-go, the leaders of what some have termed the Islamic Nato have made no secret of their desire to bring more nations into the fold.
Egypt, which has Africa’s strongest navy, has been identified as the next likely entrant, alongside Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Azerbaijan and Syria. Turkish Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan, described Cairo as a “pure accomplice” and stated solely “technical points” remained earlier than it might be part of.
On paper, a number of components make Egypt a super candidate to affix the Mecca Pact. It boasts the strongest navy pressure on the African continent, fielding over 4.4 lakh navy personnel in addition to tons of of contemporary tanks and plane acquired by way of US navy support. It additionally controls the Suez Canal, an important maritime artery connecting Europe to Asia.
There have been some voices in Cairo favouring Egypt’s inclusion. Egyptian Overseas Minister Badr Abdelatty stated final week that Cairo was “seriously considering” joining the agreement, pending constitutional and authorized evaluations of the defence obligations it will entail. But, because of a mixture of opposition to Egypt’s entry to the pact from Saudi Arabia, in addition to Cairo’s unwillingness to sabotage its ties with international locations like India, signifies that the Islamic Nato stays bereft of Egypt as a member, no less than in the intervening time.
India and Egypt share deep-rooted civilisational ties, relationship again no less than to the third century BCE. The ties have been elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2023. Cairo and New Delhi even have shut defence relations, with their militaries participating in joint workout routines. Round 700 Indian firms are registered in Egypt, with 70 of them energetic and having invested over $5.5 billion.
OPPOSITION IN SAUDI ARABIA TO EGYPT JOINING MECCA PACT
Mockingly, at the same time as Turkey is pushing exhausting for Egypt’s inclusion within the Mecca Pact, Saudi Arabia is way extra hesitant.
In accordance with a report within the UK-based information outlet, Center East Eye, Saudi Arabia, one of many three companions of the Islamic Nato, has opposed Egypt’s entry into the alliance “no less than for now”.
Three Saudi sources conversant in the discussions advised Center East Eye acknowledged the Saudi place was pushed by a rising frustration with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s authorities and a perception in Riyadh that Egypt now not supplied the strategic or navy worth it as soon as did.
In accordance with the Center East Eye report, Saudi Arabia opposed Egypt becoming a member of the Mecca Pact on account of simmering tensions with Cairo. Regardless of offering round $25 billion to shore up Sisi’s authorities after it took energy in 2013, Riyadh has grow to be pissed off by a scarcity of reciprocal help.
One supply cited by Center East Eye pointed to Egypt’s “minimal and unreliable” function in Yemen (the place Riyadh has been battling Iranian-backed Houthi militants since 2015) and its alignment with the UAE.
The UAE is amongst India’s strongest allies within the Center East. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are engaged in a strategic, financial and international coverage rivalry.
A former senior Saudi adviser bluntly acknowledged, “Egypt has all the time been depending on us, on the US, and it doesn’t give again, it simply takes and takes with no return.”
Whereas Turkish Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan referred to as Cairo a “pure accomplice” and pushed for its inclusion, Saudi sources dismissed claims that Egypt voluntarily abstained. The previous adviser referred to as that notion “laughable,” including, “The matter of truth is, Sisi would have been keen to affix so he might reap the monetary features of this settlement, as he often does.”
Center East Eye additional reported that Saudi Arabia considered Turkey and Pakistan as extra dependable companions. The previous senior adviser emphasised that “determination makers within the management have critical considerations about Sisi’s loyalty,” noting “he’s merely seen that he can’t be trusted, and rightly so,” however added, “Perhaps sooner or later, if we see that there’s change or enchancment.”
EGYPT HAS STRONG ECONOMIC TIES WITH INDIA
Saudi Arabia’s opposition, nevertheless, will not be the one issue that may clarify Egypt’s absence from the Mecca Pact. Cairo’s personal international coverage may additionally make it cautious of becoming a member of a bloc that would constrain a number of of its valued partnerships.
Cairo maintains amicable ties with a number of international locations that the three signatories of the Mecca Pact don’t all the time see eye to eye. This consists of Greece and Cyprus (which have longstanding tensions with Turkey), the UAE (which has questioned the true intent of Saudi Arabia joining the Mecca Pact), Israel (with which Egypt has maintained a peace treaty since 1973) and India.
A report by Egyptian outlet Mada Masr, citing diplomats and different sources, means that preserving this room for manoeuvre is central to Cairo’s pondering.
A senior Egyptian diplomat advised the outlet that Cairo has sought to keep up a “balanced relationship with all events” and doesn’t wish to be drawn into regional alignments that would constrain its international coverage. The BBC and the Center East Eye had additionally cited Mada Masr’s report.
A former Arab diplomat cited by Mada Masr stated Egypt was additionally cautious of Turkey’s difficult relations with Greece and Cyprus, in addition to Cairo’s rising financial ties with India.
“Egypt won’t be becoming a member of a defence settlement with Turkey, particularly in view of the advanced relationship it has with Greece and Cyprus,” the diplomat advised the Egyptian outlet. “Equally, it’s exhausting to see Egypt getting concerned in a defence settlement with Pakistan, contemplating that Egypt is in talks to advance financial relations with India.”
WILL EGYPT JOIN THE MECCA PACT? UAE A BIG FACTOR
Cairo additionally must take account its ties with the UAE. Egypt has a defence treaty with the UAE and, in response to Center East Eye, deployed Rafale fighter jets in response to Iranian strikes on the UAE in Might. On the similar time, Egypt stays closely depending on Emirati monetary help. It’s also reluctant to become involved in Saudi Arabia’s lengthy conflict with the Houthis in Yemen, reported Center East Eye.
Writing for the London-based suppose tank, Chatham Home, international affairs skilled, Ahmed Aboudouh, famous that regardless of Egypt’s shut ties with all three international locations of the Islamic Nato, Egypt has, for the time, refused to commit because of the need of its leaders to “embrace non-alignment and keep away from navy blocs to forestall entrapment”.
“Becoming a member of the Mecca Pact might sign that Egypt is selecting sides to the three members’ numerous geopolitical rivals – which collectively could possibly be seen as together with Iran and the Houthis, Israel, the UAE, Greece, Cyprus and India. This perceived alignment might negatively influence Cairo’s relationships with these actors with out delivering a big pay-off,” wrote Aboudouh.
WILL INDIA TIES PLAY A ROLE IN EGYPT NOT JOINING MECCA PACT?
India provides one other layer to this calculation. Indrani Bagchi, CEO of the Delhi-based suppose tank, Anata Centre, advised the BBC that India was “one of many causes” for Egypt’s determination, however “the final purpose”.
She pointed to Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel and its shut ties with the UAE, saying Cairo had “prevented becoming a member of a gaggle whose member nation, Pakistan, doesn’t recognise the existence of Israel and can be anti-India.”
Bagchi added that becoming a member of the settlement “wouldn’t have had any important influence on relations with India, however it will not have despatched a great message both”.
That consideration carries financial weight. In accordance with the BBC, greater than 700 Indian firms are registered in Egypt, with round 70 working throughout sectors and whole investments of greater than 5.5 billion US {Dollars}. Bilateral commerce stood at 6.5 billion US {Dollars} in 2025-26, whereas Indian firms make use of round 40,000 Egyptians.
For Egypt, due to this fact, staying out of the Mecca Pact for now could possibly be much less about rejecting the pact and extra about preserving its strategic flexibility. Becoming a member of the Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan Islamic Nato might complicate Cairo’s relationships with India, Israel and the UAE, with which it has fostered priceless partnerships, and pressure it to take sides in rival regional alignments it has up to now sought to steadiness.
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