Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Middle Eastern nations to oppose external interference and consider reshaping the region’s security order during a visit to Egypt on Wednesday, as Beijing seeks to expand its influence amid the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Xi’s first trip to the Middle East in four years comes as US partners in the region reassess their strategic relationships after months of conflict that have disrupted trade, shaken economies and raised questions about Washington’s long-term role.
Egypt, itself a major US defence partner that receives around $1.3 billion annually in military aid from Washington, has been steadily increasing economic and military cooperation with China in recent years.
For China, Egypt’s regional influence and strategic location make it an important partner as Beijing seeks a broader economic role and tries to chip away at US influence in the region.
“Egypt represents something quite valuable to Beijing — a large domestic market for investment opportunities, and a lot of diplomatic weight in the region, including the Palestine question, as well as connectivity to Africa,” said H.A. Hellyer, a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute think tank.
Growing military ties were on display last month during Egypt’s “Eagles of Civilisation” exercises with China, which included a rare air combat drill involving Chinese-made J-16 jets and French-made Rafale aircraft.
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