Sisi expects new US engagement

Egypt leader looks for fresh start with president Trump

CAIRO // Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi has praised US president-elect Donald Trump and said he expected greater engagement in the Middle East from his administration. The former Egyptian army chief had strained relations with Barack Obama’s administration, which had temporarily suspended military aid after Mr El Sisi toppled his Islamist predecessor in 2013.

“I believe that president-elect Trump will be more rigorously engaged with the issues of the region,” he said.

“As a matter of fact, president-elect Trump has shown deep and great understanding of what is taking place in the region as a whole and what is tak- ing place in Egypt.” Mr Trump’s tough talk on terrorism has appeal among Egyptian officials, as the country faces an insurgency that has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers.

The insurgency took off after the military overthrew Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim brotherhood in 2013, unleashing a crackdown on supporters.

“Personally I respect and appreciate” Mr Trump, Mr El Sisi said. “That is why I am looking forward, and I am expecting more support and more reinforcement of our bilateral relations”. Mr El Sisi, who met Mr Trump in September in New York, downplayed his calls to ban or extremely vet Muslims entering the United States.

“We have got to draw a distinction between the rhetoric that takes place in presidential campaigns and the real and actual administration of a country after the inauguration.”

Egypt’s pro-government media have often railed against Mr Obama, accusing the US of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and other dissident groups.

Observers believe Mr Trump is less likely to take Egypt to task over human rights. Instead, he could offer Mr El Sisi international political support as Cairo battles ISIL grouplinked militants in the Sinai peninsula and in Libya.

Trump’s tough talk on terrorism appeals to Egypt, a country wracked by insurgency