Chinese President Xi Jinping, with his wife Peng Liyuan, speaking with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, as they arrive at Cairo International Airport on Sept. 1, 2026. (Credit: Khaled Desouki/AFP)
The red carpet and honors extended to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a ceremony on the second day of his first visit to Egypt in 10 years set the tone for the changes underway. After six months of war between the United States and Iran, one of Washington’s main Arab military partners — which notably receives $1.3 billion in annual military aid — has never invested so heavily in its relationship with Beijing."Egypt is hedging, like everyone else in the region," explains Ahmed Aboudouh, a researcher at Chatham House, when asked about the possibility of Cairo distancing itself from Washington. The Egyptians speak of ittizan, or "strategic balance": not aligning with China against the United States, but multiplying partnerships in order to preserve their autonomy.A Chinese card on the Nile?Chinese involvement is...
The red carpet and honors extended to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a ceremony on the second day of his first visit to Egypt in 10 years set the tone for the changes underway. After six months of war between the United States and Iran, one of Washington’s main Arab military partners — which notably receives $1.3 billion in annual military aid — has never invested so heavily in its relationship with Beijing."Egypt is hedging, like everyone else in the region," explains Ahmed Aboudouh, a researcher at Chatham House, when asked about the possibility of Cairo distancing itself from Washington. The Egyptians speak of ittizan, or "strategic balance": not aligning with China against the United States, but multiplying partnerships in order to preserve their autonomy.A Chinese card on the Nile?Chinese involvement...