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Indian Prime Minister Arrives in Egypt on 2-day Visit

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 23: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a luncheon at the Department of State on June 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 23: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a luncheon at the Department of State on June 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP
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Indian Prime Minister Arrives in Egypt on 2-day Visit

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 23: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a luncheon at the Department of State on June 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 23: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a luncheon at the Department of State on June 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a two-day visit to Egypt on Saturday, a trip that underscores the growing ties between the two countries.

Modi’s flight landed at Cairo’s international airport Saturday afternoon, coming from a four-day trip to the United States where he held talks with President Joe Biden, delivered a speech to the US Congress, and met with top American and Indian executives.

Modi was received by Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, and the two inspected an honor guard and listened to the national anthems. Modi took to Twitter to thank Madbouly for “the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport," and added, “May India-Egypt ties flourish and benefit the people of our nations.”

Modi and Madbouly then held talks on strengthening Egyptian-Indo ties, according to Egypt's state-run MENA news agency. The talks were attended by senior government officials from both countries, MENA reported.

Modi is scheduled to hold talks with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Sunday. The two countries would also sign a set of memorandums aimed at solidifying their ties.

Modi’s visit comes six months after Sisi attended India’s Republic Day parade as an official guest.

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Iraqi Foreign Minister: We Are Not Part of the ‘Axis of Resistance’

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Reuters)
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Reuters)
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Iraqi Foreign Minister: We Are Not Part of the ‘Axis of Resistance’

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Reuters)
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Reuters)

A day after Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated that Iran does not have proxies in the region, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein declared that Baghdad is not part of what is known as the “Axis of Resistance.”

Hussein’s statement aligns with similar calls from Iraqi political leaders urging the country to avoid becoming entangled in the ongoing regional escalation. His remarks come amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, fueled by renewed Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Gaza and the resurgence of Houthi threats to Red Sea shipping lanes.

In a televised interview, Hussein asserted: “Iraq is not part of the ‘Axis of Resistance’ and does not believe in the concept of ‘unified battlefronts.’ We only recognize the Iraqi battlefield.”

He emphasized that Iraq’s constitution prohibits armed groups operating outside official military institutions and does not allow unilateral decisions to engage in war.

He also criticized the actions of Iraqi armed factions over the past months, stating that their involvement has harmed Iraq without benefiting the Palestinian cause. According to Hussein, the recent escalation has forced Iraq to prioritize its national interests, particularly after receiving direct threats from the US administration.

The foreign minister suggested that there is still room for dialogue with armed factions to prevent Iraq from becoming a target of potential military strikes by external forces such as the US or Israel.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iran recently sent a message to Iraqi Shiite faction leaders, instructing them to avoid provoking the US and Israel.

Discussing Iraq’s relationship with the US, Hussein noted a shift in American policy, particularly regarding energy imports from Iran. He revealed that Washington has officially informed Iraq that it will not extend waivers for importing Iranian energy, a decision made clear during a recent meeting in Paris.

The minister warned that Iraq could face a severe electricity crisis in the coming summer if the government does not take urgent action. He urged the Iraqi ministries of electricity and oil to collaborate in finding solutions to mitigate the potential energy shortfall.

Hussein also cautioned that if Iran fails to reach an agreement with the new US administration, it could become a target of an Israeli military strike.

“Such a development would have catastrophic consequences for Iraq and the entire region,” he warned.