Xi’s Egypt visit spotlights alliances reshaped by Iran war
Xi Jinping makes his first Egypt visit in a decade as Cairo expands Chinese economic and military ties while seeking greater strategic autonomy
- Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt comes as the Iran war prompts Middle Eastern countries to reassess their security and economic relationships, particularly their dependence on the United States.
- Fueled by doubts over US reliability as a security partner, Egypt is actively diversifying its foreign policy to achieve greater strategic autonomy and strengthen ties with powers like China.
- The deepening Egypt-China partnership is evident through expanding military cooperation, including joint exercises with advanced Chinese fighter jets, and billions of dollars in new Chinese investment in strategic sectors.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday (September 1) for his first visit to the Arab world’s most populous country in a decade, as the Iran war prompts Middle Eastern governments to reassess their economic and security relationships.
The conflict has disrupted global energy markets and fuelled doubts over whether regional governments can depend on the United States as a long-term security partner.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Xi at Cairo International Airport. Egyptian state television showed the two leaders walking along a red carpet lined by uniformed soldiers, folk dancers and young Egyptians carrying Chinese flags.
The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish formal ties with the People’s Republic of China.
Sisi wrote in the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper that the two countries had become partners in strengthening the Global South’s role in the international system.
In commentary published by China’s Xinhua news agency, Xi described the two nations as “close brothers standing by each other” against imperialism and colonialism and said he wanted to explore a deeper partnership.
Military cooperation expands
Egypt receives about US$1.3 billion in annual military assistance from the United States but has steadily broadened its defence relationship with China.
Cairo hosted its second annual military exercises with Beijing in August. The drills, launched in 2025, included China’s first deployment of J-16 fighter jets to Africa and a rare air-combat exercise involving the Chinese aircraft and Egypt’s French-made Rafales.
Images also showed a Chinese air-force tanker refuelling a Rafale, giving Beijing an opportunity to examine Western-built military equipment more closely.
Egypt has pursued closer relations with Beijing since at least 2014, when Sisi travelled to China and signed a strategic partnership agreement.
H. A. Hellyer, a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute, said concerns over American reliability arising from the wars in Gaza and Iran had reinforced Cairo’s desire to diversify its partnerships.
“Egypt sees itself as moving towards greater strategic autonomy,” Hellyer said, adding that Cairo wanted strong relations with Washington, Beijing, Moscow and Europe.
Investment deepens China’s presence
Egypt’s geographical position increases its strategic importance. It borders Israel, Sudan and Libya and controls the Suez Canal, a major international trade route.
Chinese investment has risen by billions of dollars in recent years, covering manufacturing, ports, solar power, green hydrogen and satellite technology.
Eric Olander, co-founder of the China Global South Project, said Egypt was an obvious destination for Xi because of its links to Israel, the Palestinian issue, Africa and the Persian Gulf.
The visit also forms part of Beijing’s wider diplomatic activity in the Middle East.
Xi hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah in Beijing during the previous week, when Palestinian rights featured prominently in their discussions.
Egypt is the second stop on Xi’s second overseas trip of 2026. He previously attended a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, where he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders.
Xi is expected to travel to India and the United States later in September.
