India, Egypt to enhance defence cooperation

India and Egypt Wednesday decided to enhance their defence ties by having increased interactions and cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries. “During a meeting between Indian Defence Minister A K Antony and his Egyptian counterpart Gen Abdel Fattah al Sisi, the two sides agreed there was scope for enhancing defence cooperation in various areas, including increased interactions between the two armed forces and through technology collaboration between industries,” the Defence Ministry said in a press release. Sisi is part of the delegation accompanying the Egyptian President Mohd Morsi during his visit to India. “It was decided that opportunities for increasing cooperation will be discussed by both sides during the next meeting of the Joint Defence Committee, which is expected to be held in the near future, at the mutual convenience of both sides,” it said. The Joint Defence Committee was set up in 2006 between the two countries. The Egyptian Defence Minister also briefed Antony about the security situation in West Asia and in Egypt’s neighborhood. Sisi extended an invitation to Antony to visit Egypt, which was accepted by the Defence Minister.