Stratfor: Egypt and Russia’s Motives for Expanding Influence in the Middle East

Russia is taking steps to strengthen its presence in the Middle East with a five-year “preliminary agreement with Egypt on the reciprocal use of air bases in each country.” Egypt is expected to sign the agreement that gives Russia access to the Northern Africa-Mediterranean region to help contain Islamic extremism and gain new markets for arms and energy. Russia is also exploring an agreement for naval bases. “Egypt’s relationship with its historical ally, the United States, has soured since Washington temporarily cut military aid to the country after the 2013 military-led coup, as it was legally obligated to do.” That aid was restored and Egypt still depends on US equipment. Egypt had expelled the Soviet Union in 1973, and coordination with US use of the airspace will be required. “The United States has provided Egypt more than $70 billion in aid in the four decades since, at a rate of more than $1.3 billion a year in recent years,” reports the New York Times. “The cost is often justified in part by the argument that it secures the use of Egypt’s airspace and bases for the American military.” Egypt’s military government launched economic reforms in November 2016 that reduced the budget deficit and need for energy subsidies while increasing jobs and growth. – YaleGlobal

Stratfor: Egypt and Russia’s Motives for Expanding Influence in the Middle East

Russia takes steps to expand its Middle East influence with an agreement to use air bases in Egypt secured with US military aid over the next five years
Friday, December 1, 2017

Read the article from Stratfor Worldview.

Read the article in the New York Times.

Also read about Egypt’s economic reforms from the International Monetary Fund.