As US Influence Wavers, China Gains Strategic Ground in Egypt
As Egypt repositions itself on the global stage, a growing partnership with China is quietly reshaping the country’s strategic alliances—potentially at the expense of its historic ties with the United States. In her report for The Media Line, Giorgia Valente explores how infrastructure projects, trade flows, and early signs of defense cooperation are drawing Cairo closer to Beijing, even as it remains formally aligned with Washington.
Egypt’s collaboration with China includes massive investments in the country’s new administrative capital and the Suez Canal Economic Zone, signaling a deeper and more permanent Chinese economic footprint. Analysts point out that Beijing’s model—economic engagement first, followed by soft security ties—has already played out in places like Djibouti and Cambodia, raising questions about whether Egypt could be next.
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“There are no permanent troops yet,” said economist Alicia García-Herrero, “but Egypt could very well be next.” Former professor Walid Kazziha added that Egypt’s disillusionment with the West, particularly following US policy decisions under President Donald Trump, has left it more open to Beijing’s non-conditional approach. “They’re not in a hurry,” Kazziha said of China. “They’re waiting for their moment—not with bombs, but with offers.”
Signs of shifting defense ties are also emerging, with reports of Egyptian pilots training on Chinese jets and discussions around advanced weapon systems. Though a formal realignment is not yet underway, analysts suggest the consequences of Egypt’s gradual pivot could ripple across the Middle East.
To explore the full analysis, including implications for regional diplomacy and trade, read Giorgia Valente’s article at The Media Line.
