Egyptian foreign minister postpones India visit amid tensions over US strikes on Iran

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has postponed his scheduled visit to India following the recent United States airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, multiple sources confirmed on June 21.

The decision to defer the visit comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, triggered by Washington’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow.

The strikes have raised regional security concerns, prompting diplomatic recalibrations by several countries, including Egypt.

Abdelatty, who was set to make his first official visit to India after taking office earlier this year, had been expected to hold talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other senior officials.

His trip was aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation in trade, defence, and regional security.

While Indian officials have not issued a formal statement, diplomatic sources cited "scheduling adjustments" in light of the regional developments as the primary reason for the postponement. According to ThePrint, this marks the second time Abdelatty has deferred his India visit.

The Egyptian foreign ministry has also not commented officially on the matter. However, Indian diplomatic circles view the postponement as a reflection of Cairo’s cautious approach amid the rising geopolitical instability involving Iran, the US, and Israel.

The visit was also seen as part of ongoing efforts by both countries to strengthen ties under the broader India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) framework and amid expanding defence cooperation.

As of now, there is no official confirmation on the new dates for the foreign minister’s visit.