Analysis: Egypt’s fight against terror gains strength, support

CAIRO – 21 May 2017: As the United States solidifies its relations with the Arab world and President Donald Trump tries to fill the void created by Obama in the Middle East, Egypt is regaining its regional influence and gaining strength in its fight against terrorism.

Egypt has always had deep strategic relations with the U.S., particularly since the Camp David Accords, and held a leading role in peacemaking with Israel. It has built eternal, well-established relations with the U.S. through the intervening decades.

Saudia Arabia seems to be following Egypt’s path. Always an important pillar of American foreign policy in the Middle East, today the Saudis, along with Egypt, are joining a coalition to build a stronger alliance in the region to address the mutual challenges the world faces.

Since the security of the Arab Gulf has always been a “red line” for Egypt, as described by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, and because of the historic brotherly relations between Saudia Arabia and Egypt, the relationship between these two key regional players is becoming stronger as the U.S. and Saudi Arabia build closer ties.

The U.S.-Saudia arms agreement, worth $350 billion over 10 years and $110 billion that will take effect immediately, was hailed by the White House as "a significant expansion of…[the] security relationship" between the two countries. It also strengthens Egypt’s stance on regional security and in its war against terrorism and extremism. Egypt has a leading role, recognized internationally, in combating armed terror groups in the Sinai, and exerts tremendous effort in pushing regional security forward and in unifying security strategies among Arab countries of the Gulf and North Africa.

Egypt has widened its definition of “regional security” since the spread of terror across the region and works towards strengthening and supporting the national armies of neighboring countries to face the phenomenon of terrorism, yet Egypt knows this role cannot be taken on alone.

With the U.S. president confirming at Sunday’s

Arab Islamic American Summit

that all countries have “an absolute duty” to rid terrorism from “their soil,'” Egypt is gaining U.S. support along with regional support in its fight against terrorism and extremism.