Egypt and UAE push to be Middle East’s ‘ pillars of stability’
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has called for the international community to confront terrorism that “seeks to dismantle national states,” Al Ain News online reported. His comments at the UN were addressed to the global community, urging security and peace.
The remarks about the need to stop terrorism are what one would expect from any statesman. Egypt’s position is unique, however, in that it is battling ISIS in Sinai and also attempting to prevent Turkish- backed militants and arms from flooding into Libya.
Cairo has supported Khalifa Haftar and the Benghazi- based government of Libya against the Tripoli- based government. In the past year, increased Turkish support for Tripoli has escalated the conflict and led to setbacks for Haftar. Egypt in turn set redlines at Sirte on the Libyan coast, and a tenuous ceasefire has set in.
Egypt has sought to return strong national states to the region in the wake of the Arab Spring. This has meant a return to more authoritarian policies. But it also has come in reaction to the erosion of states that took place in Yemen, Syria and Libya and to some extent in Iraq. Cairo, along with its allies in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, see Ankara and Tehran as sources of instability in the region.
None of these precise accusations were made in Shoukry’s statement, but he spoke of the “values of equality and interdependence between people, and sovereignty of states over their lands.” He also spoke in favor of cooperation on COVID- 19 and cyber issues and the need to respect cultural differences of countries.
At the same time, Egypt was signing onto the East Mediterranean Gas Forum on Tuesday, Al- Ahram reported, joining Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.
“The EMGF constitutes a very important initiative by Egypt, as it makes the most of the excellent relations and cooperation between Eastern Mediterranean countries in order to find ways to develop in the best possible way the region’s natural wealth, and primarily natural gas,” a statement said, according to Al- Ahram.
On Monday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al- Sisi spoke with United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed about “regional developments.” The conversation is part of growing regional policies that link the UAE, Egypt and Israel.
“[ Sisi] discussed in a telephone call with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan means to boost bilateral relations,” the Egyptian Presidency said Monday, Al- Ahram reported. The two leaders looked at how their countries could be “pivotal pillars of stability and security in the region,” Al Arabiya reported.
The context of the conversation and Egypt’s discussions about stopping terrorism and working with partners in the Mediterranean is Cairo’s desire to play a larger role in the region, especially regarding the concept of stability.
Although this is unstated, Egypt’s main goal is to prevent what it sees as the destabilizing conflicts that have occurred over the past decade.