When Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, he was welcomed by children wearing T-shirts emblazoned with his image and performers staging a traditional dance. Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, personally greeted him at the airport, underscoring China’s growing influence in a nation long considered a key U.S. ally in the region.
The visit, marking Xi’s first to Egypt in a decade, was designed to signal China’s expanding role as a global power distinct from the West. Xi hailed China and Egypt as “close brothers” united by a history of resisting imperialism, positioning Beijing as an alternative center of influence amid regional tensions.
Xi’s arrival coincided with renewed conflict between Iran and the United States, a dispute that has fueled anxiety across the Middle East. Egypt, which receives over $1.3 billion annually in U.S. military aid, has simultaneously deepened its strategic partnership with China, extending cooperation into technology and military domains beyond traditional trade.
During his three-day stay, Xi met with President Sisi to discuss mutual cooperation in artificial intelligence, trade, and supply chains, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua. The agenda included securing international shipping lanes and addressing regional conflicts, with Xi urging “major powers outside the region” to respect the sovereignty of Middle Eastern nations.
The visit occurs amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. commitment to Middle Eastern stability. Analysts note that nations like Egypt are increasingly seeking to diversify their partnerships to hedge against potential shifts in U.S. policy. “You can’t put all your eggs in one basket,” said Ding Long, a Middle East expert, emphasizing China’s role as a critical alternative partner.
Egypt and China are commemorating 70 years of diplomatic relations, with bilateral trade expanding 60 percent over the past decade to exceed $20 billion last year. Chinese investments in Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone and infrastructure projects, such as a new administrative capital and light rail system, reflect deepening economic ties. Military cooperation has also intensified, including joint exercises featuring China’s J-16 fighter jets.
Despite these developments, experts observe that China’s role in Egypt’s security framework remains supplementary. The visit serves to project Chinese influence across the Arab world, leveraging Egypt’s neutral stance on the Iran conflict to shape regional perceptions. “He has an opportunity to be in the region while controlling the narrative,” noted Eric Olander, editor of The China-Global South Project.
Scholars like Hisham Hellyer of the Royal United Services Institute caution that regional nations are not abandoning U.S. partnerships but diversifying to mitigate risks. “I don’t think any country in the region wants to give up the U.S.,” Hellyer stated, noting that recent U.S. disengagement efforts from the Middle East have accelerated this trend.
