Nine Years of Egyptian-French relations under President Sisi's leadership

CAIRO – 22 June 2023: The past nine years have witnessed significant progress in the relations between Egypt and France since President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi took power in 2014. This progress is driven by a shared political will and a determination from both nations' leaderships to strengthen and expand their partnerships, considering the substantial influence both friendly countries have.

Egyptian diplomacy has successfully achieved a new surge over the last nine years in affirming Egypt's pivotal role regionally and internationally, restoring its stature and influence for the benefit of the Egyptian people.

"Egypt conducts its regional and international foreign relations based on deep-rooted and stable principles that include mutual respect, inclination towards peace, and upholding international law principles." These are the cornerstones of the foreign policy emphasized by President Sisi.

Egyptian foreign policy has also seen intense activity during this period, while focusing on preserving national interests, achieving balance and diversity in its relations with various countries in the east and west, and opening new horizons for cooperation.

The aforementioned principles are rooted in Egypt's policy of promoting peace and stability on the Arab, regional, and international levels; of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and of supporting the concepts of mutual respect and solidarity, in adherence to international laws.

In this context, the ties between Cairo and Paris have undergone a major transformation over the past nine years across all fields, stemming from the importance and centrality of these relations and the mutual urge to further elevate bilateral cooperation, particularly in strategic, economic, and cultural areas, while continuously coordinating on all regional and international issues of common interest.

President Sisi and French President Emmanuel Macron are keen on intensifying communication to enhance the exceptional Egyptian-French relations, continue joint coordination, and exchange views on crises affecting the region, including the situations in Libya, Syria, and Iraq; the future of the Palestinian cause, besides the terrorism dossier and the emerging crises of food and energy. Most recently, the two leaders held discussions on the sidelines of the Baghdad Cooperation and Partnership Conference, which took place in Jordan at the end of 2022.

In November 2022, President Sisi welcomed the French president on the sidelines of the Climate Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh. During the meeting, the president praised the development of the bilateral relations, expressing Egypt's aspiration to enhance the political coordination with France on various regional and international issues, especially those related to food security, energy security, and sectors where France excels, such as transportation and electric vehicle manufacturing.

For his part, the French president expressed his country's appreciation for Egypt, lauding the close ties between Egypt and France and the depth of friendship between the two countries. He praised the recent, unprecedented momentum in relations between the two countries, especially in the economic and trade relations.

The French president also commended Egypt's impressive success in organizing a massive global event like the Climate Summit, affirming his country's keenness to intensify  consultation with Egypt as one of its most important partners in the region, appreciating its role in establishing the pillars of stability in the Middle East, the Mediterranean region, and the African continent.

Over the course of nine years, there have been numerous reciprocal presidential visits between the leaders of both countries.

In November 2014, President Sisi made an official visit to France, where he held a meeting with the French President and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, and the presidents of the National Assembly and Senate.

President Sisi also visited Paris in October 2017, leading a high-level delegation and was received by President Macron. They discussed issues of mutual interest, particularly regional crises, counter-terrorism, bilateral files, and ways to enhance relations in the fields of culture and education.

In January 2019, the French president visited Egypt, and the discussions with President Sisi focused on the overall bilateral relations and ways to develop their foundations in various priority areas, including political, military, security, economic, cultural, developmental, and tourism.

In August 2019, Egypt's president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi visited France to attend the G7 Partnership meetings with African nations. The event, chaired by Egypt as the president of the African Union, was a platform for promoting intercontinental dialogue and cooperation.

President Sisi's diplomatic outreach continued with another visit to France in December 2020, where he held a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron. The meeting was an opportunity for the Egyptian leader to present his country's perspective on regional crises, especially those concerning the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, and strategies for their resolution. The visit also aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, specifically in investment and trade sectors, as Egypt focuses on attracting foreign investments for major national projects as part of its comprehensive development process.

In May 2021, President Sisi visited France to participate in both the Paris Conference to support the transitional phase in Sudan and the Summit on Financing African Economies, where he was received by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.

In November of the same year, President Sisi visited France to participate in the Paris International Conference on Libya, in response to an invitation from the French president, and in light of the close relations that link Egypt and France, as well as Egypt's pivotal role in supporting the political track in Libya on the bilateral, regional, and international levels. The president also met Macron on the sidelines of the conference.

The president visited France in February 2022 in response to Macron's invitation to participate in the "One Ocean" Summit, and again in July of the same year.

There is keenness and pride in the strategic partnership that unites Egypt and France in various fields, including developmental, economic, and cultural sectors, among other areas of multiple cooperation between the two countries, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri during the talks he held with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna during her visit to Egypt on the sidelines of the activities of the 27th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh.

The French minister lauded the outstanding bilateral relations between France and Egypt, congratulating Minister Sameh Shoukry for the extraordinary organization of a conference that showcased Egypt's ability to mobilize an unprecedented number of world leaders and participants.

Marc Barety, the French ambassador to Cairo, reiterated the depth and strategic significance of the historic ties binding France and Egypt in various sectors during different occasions. He highlighted the potential for more economic collaboration, particularly in sectors like transportation, water, energy—especially green energy and green hydrogen—and general environmental conservation.

The ambassador also emphasized that relations between Cairo and Paris have seen significant growth, particularly in light of the increase in trade volume, which reached €4 billion. Egypt has been successful in reducing its trade deficit thanks to its gas exports amid the global energy crisis.

Amid a global food crisis, France has prioritized supporting Egypt. The French ambassador to Cairo revealed that his country has become Egypt's second-largest wheat supplier, exporting approximately 1.2 million tons of wheat to Egypt in 2022.

Given the war in Ukraine, French authorities, at the request of Egyptian authorities, have increased their wheat exports. France recognizes Egypt's food security as highly crucial and is also assisting Egypt in constructing silos for grain storage. In 2022, the French Development Agency provided around €350 million for a program in Egypt related to transportation and food security.

France's investment in Egypt is considerable, as confirmed by Ambassador Barety. He mentioned that French investment totals approximately €5.5 billion across various sectors, including transportation, water treatment, energy, pharmaceutical manufacturing, commercial product distribution, and industrial production. French companies intend to infuse more investments into Egypt.

Furthermore, the ambassador unveiled that France is keen on reinforcing economic cooperation with Egypt. Currently, it ranks 12th globally and third in Europe as a trade partner of Egypt, with the ambition to become Egypt's primary European and one of its top global partners.

In terms of cooperation in the energy sector, particularly renewable energy, the French ambassador stated that his country is involved in numerous renewable energy projects in Egypt through the French Development Agency. Several French companies, including "Engie," supply Egypt with equipment.

France also contributes to the Benban Solar Park, collaborates with Egypt in producing around 800 megawatts of power, and a memorandum of understanding has also been signed with Egypt for green hydrogen production.

Economic relations between Egypt and France are robust, mirrored by the trade volume. French exports to Egypt amount to approximately €2 billion, while Egyptian exports to France are estimated at €800 million. Both sides are eager to maximize trade cooperation, considering the immense potentials Egypt and France hold.

The mutual interest between Egypt and France to enhance their cooperation has come to fruition with the signing of a governmental agreement on June 13, 2021. This agreement aims to finance projects through the French Development Agency (AFD) valued at approximately €3.8 billion for the period between 2021 and 2025.

Within the context of the profound ties between Cairo and Paris, the AFD launched its new strategy for cooperation with Egypt in May 2022, estimated to be worth around €1.25 billion until 2025. The cumulative commitments of the AFD in Egypt since 2006 total over €3.1 billion. The new strategy is based on the reinforced partnership between the agency and Egypt, leading to an additional mobilization of €1.25 billion in the coming years.

2022 marked a significant milestone in Franco-Egyptian relations, as the AFD signed loan agreements and grants worth €150 million with Egypt's three main banks – National Bank of Egypt, Bank of Egypt, and Cairo Bank – to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals in Egypt, with support from the European Union.

Signed just days before the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, these agreements, totaling €150 million – including a €10 million grant from the European Union – fall under the Joint Financing Program in Egypt. This program will support the Egyptian financial system in achieving the government's "Vision 2030" to reach Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The "Joint Financing" program includes three credit lines for the National Bank of Egypt (€50 million), Bank of Egypt (€50 million), and Cairo Bank (€40 million). It aims to finance investments that contribute positively to achieving Sustainable Development Goals, including a 30 percent target of projects demonstrating shared climate benefits.

The program also includes a €10 million grant from the European Union to encourage micro, small, and medium enterprises with impactful social or climate investments, along with a technical assistance program worth €3.25 million, managed directly by the AFD.

Franco-Egyptian relations are historically significant, especially at the cultural level. French citizens are known for their fascination with ancient Egyptian civilization. This is reflected in the high number of French tourists visiting Egypt's cultural and historical sites. The French Institute in Egypt also plays a crucial role in stimulating cooperation between the two countries.

In archaeology, France leads the field in Egypt through the French Institute for Eastern Archaeology (IFAO), the Franco-Egyptian Center for the Study of the Temples of Karnak, and the Center for Alexandrian Studies, among others.

Historical bonds, ongoing communication bridges, and the eagerness of both leaderships to consolidate their strategic partnership and cooperation serve the interests of both nations. Broad prospects await Cairo-Paris relations, particularly in light of the political and economic renaissance Egypt is currently witnessing and the unprecedented major projects being undertaken in the era of the New Republic.