Exercise Cyclone and Bright Star: the India-Egypt defence calendar

Background

Exercise Cyclone is the joint exercise between the Special Forces of India and Egypt; its fourth edition was conducted in Cairo in April 2026. Indian Army, Navy and Air Force personnel took part in the multilateral tri-services Exercise Bright Star 2025 in August and September 2025, fielding more than 700 personnel, the single largest foreign contingent. Defence cooperation is steered by the Joint Defence Committee, which first met in 2006; the eleventh round was held in Cairo in April 2026, and the first Navy-to-Navy staff talks were held in Cairo the same month. An MoU on Defence Cooperation was signed when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Egypt in November 2022. The Indian Air Force took part in the eighth Tactical Leadership Programme at Cairo West Airbase from 26 November to 27 December 2024.