MOSCOW, February 13 (RIA Novosti) – The military leader of Egypt met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, marking his first foreign trip as Cairo media reports an imminent major arms deal.
Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s visit to Moscow points to a potential pivot toward Russia by Egypt – traditionally a stalwart US ally – that could dramatically reorient international relations in the Middle East.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said talks with el-Sisi had served to cement plans to strengthen military ties.
El-Sisi has taken a firm grip over the country since the ouster of Islamist former President Mohammed Morsi in July.
The often violent crackdown unleashed by the el-Sisi government has provoked a cooling in relations with Washington, which announced in October that it would slash longstanding military aid to Cairo. According to US officials, aid cuts included halting shipments of F-16 fighter jets, Apache helicopters, M1A1 tanks and advanced anti-ship missiles.
Russia has apparently sought to exploit the Egyptian demand for defense materiel created by US disengagement.
The United States, as an ally and chief patron of both Egypt and Israel since the 1970s, has been instrumental in mediating conflicts in the region.
Egypt’s government-controlled Al-Ahram newspaper reported Wednesday, citing unnamed defense officials, the purpose of el-Sisi’s visit was to finalize an arms deal worth up to $4 billion that was originally proposed during a November meeting with Russian officials in Cairo.
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