India has invited Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the chief guest for Republic Day in 2023, reflecting New Delhi’s continuing focus on the Arab world as it prepares for a year of high-profile diplomatic engagements.
The formal invitation was handed over when external affairs minister S Jaishankar met Sisi in Cairo on October 16 during an official visit to Egypt.
Egypt is among the nine guest countries invited to the G20 Summit under India’s presidency in 2023. An invitation as a chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 is a gesture of honor reserved for the country’s close allies and partners. Both countries are yet to make a formal announcement about the matter.
The 68-year-old general-turned-politician is set to be the first Egyptian leader to be hosted by India for Republic Day celebrations. However, the two counties have enjoyed close relations in the past decades.
Talmiz Ahmad, who served as India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, said the invitation to Sisi appeared to be driven by several factors, including Egypt’s revival after a severe economic crisis, its independent foreign policy, and its growing role in Africa.
