A delegation from India Foundation attended the 3rd India-West Asia and North Africa (WANA) Dialogue, organised by the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA) in Cairo, Egypt, from 27 to 31 October 2025, representing a pivotal advancement in enhancing India’s strategic involvement with this crucial region. The delegation was led by Dr Ram Madhav, President of India Foundation, and also included Capt Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President, India Foundation; Air Marshal (Retd.) Pramod Kumar Roy, former Commander-in-Chief of Andaman and Nicobar Command; Dr Ausaf Sayeed, former Secretary (CPV & OIA) in the Ministry of External Affairs and former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Seychelles; Ms Prabha Hanmanth Rao, Distinguished Fellow and Executive Director of the South Asian Institute for Strategic Affairs; and Dr Pavan Chaurasia, Research Fellow India Foundation.
On 28 December, the delegation visited the Suez Canal Museum where it was briefed about the history of the canal and its other aspects. On the same day, the delegation was hosted for a dinner by H.E. Amb. Suresh K Reddy, Ambassador of India to Egypt. The conference officially began on 29 October 2025 at ECFA premises in Cairo. The session started with the address by Dr Ram Madhav, who delivered the opening remarks, which centred the two-day discussions on the topics of civilisational interconnection, common security issues, and the advantages of a multipolar global order.
The first day discussion concentrated on the developing strategic partnership between India and Egypt, which was elevated to its highest status during President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s visit to New Delhi as the Chief Guest on India’s Republic Day in 2023 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to Cairo later that year. Both sided analysed the significant expansion of bilateral commerce, which exceeded $7 billion in recent years, and pinpointed emerging opportunities in defence co-production, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and agricultural technologies. Significant emphasis was placed on the International Solar Alliance (co-founded by India) and Egypt’s ambitious green hydrogen and Suez Canal industrial zone initiatives as potential convergence points. The Indian delegation emphasised Egypt’s crucial position as a link to Africa and the Arab world, while the Egyptian side acknowledged India’s developmental paradigm and its leadership in advancing the interests of the Global South. Both parties concurred that improved connectivity via the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), with Egypt as a pivotal hub, provided a strategic counterweight to alternative regional and global infrastructure initiatives.
The second day evolved into an open, thorough dialogue with academics from the WANA region regarding the persistent crises in Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Regarding Libya, the discussion acknowledged the persistent fragility of the political process despite the 2020 truce and examined how foreign parties may assist UN-led reconciliation without intensifying factional differences. The discussion also focused on the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and the pressing need for regional countries to promote inclusive dialogue and humanitarian access, with special attention to the horrific civil conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The situation in Syria was examined regarding the post-Assad transition (considering developments in late 2024 to early 2025), with both sides recognising India’s principled position of endorsing Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity while promoting reconstruction aid contingent upon inclusive governance. During the discussion, a common perspective surfaced that both India and Egypt perceived themselves as civilisational nations, pursuing strategic autonomy in a progressively polarised world. There was significant consensus on modernising global governance institutions, addressing religious extremism, and advocating for a balanced approach to the Palestinian issue. At the conclusion of the dialogue on 31 October 2025, participants demonstrated a strong commitment to institutionalising the India–WANA track, with the subsequent round scheduled to be held in New Delhi. The delegation also called on H.E. Amb. Amre Hamzah, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs, Government of Egypt at the New Administrative Capital of Egypt.
