Russia is one of the main non-Arab supporters of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s government and was among the first countries to endorse Sisi’s presidential bid in 2014.
Sisi visited Moscow soon after the ouster of Egypt’s first democratically-elected president, Mohammed Morsi, in a military coup in July 2013.
He made another visit to the European country in August 2014 after he won the Egyptian presidential election.
Last month, Russia and Egypt signed an agreement on the development of a nuclear power plant in the African country.
A Russian source told Al-Ahram Weekly that while the warmth between the two countries is reciprocal it is Sisi who is the driving force in the relationship.
“He comes from the same school as Putin. Both leaders appreciate each other’s importance in the regional and international spheres.”
The source continued: “Russian officials have a strong desire to support Al-Sisi, who they see is a clear and resolute leader. But we should not forget that behind this desire is concern over Egypt’s relationship with the US. What will happen if things came to a head and Washington asks Egypt to cool its relationship with Russia? Would Egypt comply?”
“Al-Sisi is a serious man. We need to view the partnership as it relates to a number of issues. A Yemeni delegation from the Huthis was recently in Russia. That delegation then headed to Cairo. Cairo does not share the same degree of friction with Iran as other Gulf countries.
“Russia wants there to be a relationship with Iran to promote stability in the region, given the chaos Washington is creating. Cairo, in cooperation with Russia, could act as a bridge between Iran and the Gulf,” he added.
Nourhan Al-Sheikh, an expert on Egyptian-Russian relations, told Al-Ahram that, “Russia cooperates with us in the fight against terrorism at a time when Washington is supporting a terrorist group in Egypt.”
He also pointed out that, “Russia offers us a process of development and contracts that do not have political strings attached, which is hardly the case with the US.”