Trump’s ‘peace talk’ ...
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One question about Egypt. Given Cairo’s recent diplomatic moves, like hosting meetings between Iranian and IAEA officials, and mediating Gaza peace talks, can we say Cairo is trying to reclaim its role as the Arab world’s leader?
Absolutely. Traditionally, Egypt’s regional rivals were Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Today, that list has grown to at least a dozen, including the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Israel, and Iraq. Meanwhile, unrest around Bab al-Mandab, the declining importance of the Suez Canal, the rise of Qatar’s regional diplomacy, the collapse of Arab nationalist movements, and Egypt’s chronic economic woes have all chipped away at Cairo’s prestige.
President [Abdel Fattah El-] Sisi is now trying to make up for his legitimacy deficit through diplomatic performance and to cash in on the economic benefits of regional deals. Should reconstruction begin in Gaza or the West Bank, Egyptian companies and workers would likely take the lead.
At the same time, any crisis in Jordan, the West Bank, or Gaza could drive refugees toward Egypt, creating expectations that Cairo will step in. Sisi is seeking to carve out an economic corridor through diplomacy, a lifeline for a nation of over 110 million facing dwindling Nile waters, fierce economic competition, and heavy military spending.
His goal is twofold: to polish Egypt’s image at home and abroad, and to reap the economic dividends of the region’s new wave of agreements.