Egypt is making China yet another important variable in the already complex equation of the Eastern Mediterranean (and the Middle East).

Egypt is making China yet another important variable in the already complex equation of the Eastern Mediterranean (and the Middle East).

Egypt is making China yet another important variable in the already complex equation of the Eastern Mediterranean (and the Middle East).Xi Jinping’s first official visit to Egypt crowns a significant deepening of economic and military ties between China and Egypt.From defense and ports to industry and clean energy, Cairo is expanding its cooperation with Beijing while steadily moving away from its dependence on Washington.This visit could accelerate Egypt’s shift away from Western influence toward China.It also adds yet another important variable to the already complex equation of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.With the development of Turkey’s defense industry and the conclusion of the Mecca Agreement now, Greece’s large purchases of advanced (unfortunately extremely expensive) defense systems alongside a weak domestic defense industry, the current U.S. tendency to disengage, and the spectacular deepening of economic and military relations between China and Egypt, the balances in the Eastern Mediterranean are being rearranged.Chinese advanced-technology defense systems — which have also demonstrated the ability to interconnect with previously acquired Western weapons systems, such as the French Rafale, with China showing it can refuel them in flight (where did China practice this interoperability? Most likely in Pakistan, once the favorite of U.S. generals) — will soon become part of the balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean and along the Egypt–Israel border.