Egypt Russia Relations
Fresh ties with Moscow comes as many Egyptians, in a wave of neo-nationalism, are chafing at being perceived as Washington's errant junior partner. Russia and Egypt are interested in countering growing American influence throughout the Middle East. The common element here between both sides is minimizing or attempting to decrease the influence of the United States in the region, especially when it comes to the Israeli-Arab conflict and, in particular, on the Israeli-Palestinian track.
Egypt had long been a staunch ally of the United States, while Russia has developed stronger ties with Israel, where there is a large Russian-speaking population. Between 1990 and 2017, Russia and Egypt, for example, engaged in nearly 30 arms deals, mainly for surface-to-air missiles and related technologies.
Egypt was the first Arab country to start purchasing Soviet weapons. Since 1955 when the first military agreement was signed and through 1973 Egypt remained the largest Mideastern customer for Soviet military equipment. Then cooperation almost entirely stagnated until the mid-1990s.
The two countries had several years of decline in their relations that ended with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's visit to Russia in 1997. The negotiations resulted in a thick stack of documents being signed, among them were agreements on scientific and technical cooperation, crime control, as well as a Russian-Egyptian Political Declaration.
In 1997, a contract was signed for supply of T-80 tanks and Mi helicopters to Egypt. In 1998-2000, Russia delivered to Egypt a batch of SAM systems and ammunition for them, as well as radars. After that Rosoboronexport supplied the Arab Republic with SAM launchers, SP launchers, Mi-type helicopters, MiG-type fighters, as well as firing arms and ammunition.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Egypt 26 April 2005 for talks with President Mubarak regarding the complex peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. The two men will also discuss Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, as well as efforts to reform the United Nations. The trip marked the first visit by a Russian or Soviet leader to Egypt in 40 years. Russian President Vladimir Putin said his visit to Egypt is part of an effort to bolster ties in the Middle East where the former Soviet Union once yielded enormous influence. The Russian president said he planned to hold direct talks with Arab countries, starting with Egypt, as part of an effort to better understand the views and interests of people in the region.
The visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin 26-27 April 2005 to Cairo, Egypt was remembered more for its ceremonial and nostalgic aspects than for substantive agreements or strategic re-alignments. Putin and Egyptian President Mubarak released a joint statement after their summit meeting while senior officials addressed efforts to strengthen bilateral commercial and cultural ties. The Russians came hoping to sign an agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy but were put off by an unprepared Egyptian side. The two sides agreed to the opening of a privately-funded Russian university near Cairo, to the expansion of tourism, and to the sale of Russian aviation equipment. Regarding Putin's public announcement while in Cairo of his desire to host an international conference on the Middle East Peace Process, the Governemtn of Egypt listened politely, but is wary of Moscow's seriousness and fundamental ability to alter the status quo in the region.
Russia and Egypt run a Joint Russian-Egyptian Committee on Military and Technical Cooperation. Established in 2005, the Committee has been working ever since.
President Medvedev's June 2009 trip to Africa marked Russia's attempt to "return" to Africa and increase economic ties after a period of relative inactivity on the continent following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Medvedev visited Egypt, Nigeria, Namibia, and Angola June 23-27, accompanied by representatives of Russian businesses, especially those in the energy and mining industries.
On his first stop, Medvedev met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The leaders agreed that negotiations on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should reconvene as soon as possible. Medvedev's four-stop visit to Africa is a departure from his predecessor's administration. During his eight years as president, Vladimir Putin spent very little time in Africa, only visiting South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt.
The November 2013 visit to Cairo by Russia’s Foreign and Defense ministers focused renewed attention on the deterioration in relations between the U.S. and Egypt since the 03 July 2013 military ouster of elected president Mohammed Morsi. Since then Washington has blocked some major arms shipments – something Russian officials seemed eager to take advantage of. Speaking in Cairo, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said the Russian delegation’s visit was designed to re-start long dormant defense ties between the two states. Russia signed an agreement to build Egypt’s first nuclear power plant, in a televised ceremony attended by Egyptian President Fattah al-Sissi 19 November 2015. Egypt's nuclear energy agency and Russia's Rosatom company signed the deal pertaining to the Dabaa nuclear power station project in Cairo. Sissi said Russia will finance the project through a loan to Egypt. Construction of the power plant was not expected to begin for several years.
Egypt's red carpet welcome 01 December 2017 for visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has set in motion a military rapprochement between Cairo and Moscow, after months of hesitation, and more than 45 years of hostility following former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's expulsion of Soviet military advisers from the country in 1972. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed the draft deal with Egypt, inked by Shoigu, which would allow each side to use the other's military facilities and air space for a period of five years. Russian military forces had already reportedly used Egyptian facilities for operations inside Libya in recent months. Enhancing bilateral military cooperation, including the 2016 and 2017 joint anti-terrorism drills, allowed the Egyptian Armed Forces and the law enforcement to counter terrorist threat more effectively, Lavrov argued. Moscow-Cairo relations had shifted to a new level of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov wrote in an article for the Egyptian Al-Ahram daily 13 October 2018.
"We are interested in enhancing cultural and humanitarian ties and contacts between people. The decision to resume direct flights between the capitals of the two states, which were suspended in October 2015 after a terror act on board the Russian airplane flying over the Sinai Peninsula, contributes to that. This decision was made last December during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Cairo," Lavrov said The creation of the Russian industrial zone in Egypt’s Port Said near the Suez Canal has begun, Lavrov said. "The [bilateral] trade is increasing; it has already exceeded $6.5 billion. The practical implementation of major projects, the construction of a Russian-style nuclear power plant in El Dabaa and the creation of a Russian industrial zone in the area of Suez Canal, has started," Lavrov emphasized.
In February 2016, Russia and Egypt signed a memorandum to establish a Russian industrial zone in Egypt in order to ensure localization of products manufactured for Egyptian, African, and Middle Eastern markets. In March 2018, the Egyptian government approved the creation of the zone. In May 2018, Moscow and Cairo signed an intergovernmental agreement to establish the industrial area.
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