President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi visit to Russia (August 25-27) reflects a stable Egyptian orientation towards partnership with Moscow. It is his fourth visit within eighteen months, which underlines Egypt’s determination to consolidate the cooperation with Russia.
The development in Egyptian-Russian relations along the last two years is an Egyptian choice and not just a reaction to the deterioration of Egyptian -American relations as someone believes.
June 30 Revolution has provided a real opportunity to push forward the Egyptian-Russian partnership. It has showed how popular Russia is among Egyptians who raised Russian President Vladimir Putin' photos in Tahrir Square, and in their shops and homes. They rushed to greet him during his visit to Egypt on February 9-10, in recognition and gratitude for the Russia's support to Egypt.
Russia's attitude toward June 30 revolution has also evoked all Moscow's historical support for Egypt, notably during 1956, 1967 and 1973 wars when Moscow stood firmly alongside Egypt, and when Russia constructed the High Dam as a mega project that put Egypt on the road of overall development and protected it from famine several times. After nearly five decades Russia has been back to support Egypt in a critical milestone of its history. It is a respectable partner who does not interfere in the internal affairs and not manipulates the stability of the country to serve its own interests.
The visit of President al-Sisi to Moscow also indicates the expected long-term strategic cooperation and unprecedented level the mutual relations, especially regarding the El-Dabaa Nuclear power plant for generating electricity, which is another mega development project for Egypt. In addition, the breakthrough in the military and strategic cooperation between the two countries conveys the Egyptian-Russian relations to a strategic level close to what it was in the fifties and sixties on new bases of mutual interests.
Egyptian-Russian partnership is not limited to mega-projects and military cooperation; it is noticeable that there is an Egyptian desire to push forward cooperation in various fields. Al-Sisi held talks with Vladimir Putin, met with a number of major Russian companies' heads working in the field of energy as well as Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, Defense minister Sergey Shoigu, and the Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov.
Al-Sisi visit came along with both King of Jordan and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi visit to Moscow within the framework of a widespread diplomatic mobility lead by Russia to restore stability in the Middle East, and to eliminate terrorism in the region. An overview for the Arab map shows the magnitude tragedy in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and recently Lebanon. They all form a belt of instability that threatens not only the countries in the region, including Egypt, but also Russia. The mutual understanding between the two countries and their matching visions concerning regional issues are key factors that push forward their partnership.
It is clear that Egypt finally realized that the world was much broader than the West, and that there are opportunities in other countries and regions worthy to be initiated and developed. Among the most important come the Egyptian-Russian relations which have a solid base of deep and mutual interests.
However, despite the strong roots and promising prospects of the Egyptian-Russian partnership, they are surrounded by challenges. Most notably that Egypt still not fully stable in the light of growing dissatisfaction among people because of corruption and deterioration of living standards and services. That raises questions and maybe worries over the future of relations between the two countries, particularly taking into consideration the presence of what might be called "the American lobby" in Egypt.
Since the dramatic changes brought by President Sadat in Egyptian international and regional alliances in the mid-seventies and over the following decades the US has tightened its grip on Egypt. It has followers in the local political elite, executives, academics and media who owe most of their loyalty to the United States. They fear that the rapprochement with Moscow would affect negatively the relationship with Washington, and subsequently their influence, interests and gains. They are working hard to disrupt and slow down the progress in Egyptian-Russian cooperation as they did during Mubarak's era. It is true that many projects were agreed upon with Mubarak and the latter was able to warming up the Egyptian-Russian relations, but he was unable to convey the relations with Russia to a strategic level.
Whatever the challenges facing the Egyptian-Russian relations, Russia will continue to be the natural partner for Egypt and the closest and most trusted friend to the Egyptian people.
