When John Kerry, the US secretary of state, stood next to Nabil Fahmi, the Egyptian foreign minister, at a joint press conference early this week, few could have predicted the reconciliatory language the top American official would use to repair relations with Cairo. “We are committed to work and we will continue our cooperation with the interim government,” Kerry told reporters, concluding his first trip to Cairo since the 30 June Revolution against the Muslim Brotherhood. In a strong message conveyed to the Egyptian public opinion from US President Barack Obama, the top diplomat added, “as clearly and as forcefully as I can, in no uncertain terms,” that “the United States is a friend of the people of Egypt, of the country of Egypt, and we are a partner.” Kerry extended his words to the future democratic process and the new political roadmap: “Nothing will help bring the people of Egypt together more or provide more economic stability, or provide more confidence in the future, than an Egypt that is participating in a democratically elected government that is brought about through inclusive, free and fair elections. And we will support the interim government and the Egyptian people in that end.” After four months of soured relations, the two countries agreed to start a “strategic dialogue” based on a US proposal that exceeded the expectations of all Middle Eastern experts. In a clear signal of the importance of overcoming recent differences that came to the fore following the toppling of Mohamed Morsi, the first Muslim Brotherhood president in Egypt, Kerry confirmed the need to build a new relationship that should not be defined by aid but by partnership, promising strategic talks. The top US diplomat visited Egypt for only six hours, but it was enough to prove to Egypt's new leaders that Washington will not scarify its strong relationship with Cairo. Relations between the US and Egypt deteriorated noticeably after Morsi's overthrow, which unleashed violence in which hundreds died, even though the government published a “roadmap” for an eventual return to democracy. A US decision on whether to resume the delivery of military equipment put on hold in the wake of violence would depend on steps taken by the Egyptian government to protect human rights, allow peaceful demonstrations and permit a free press, among other measures Kerry mentioned. Kerry did not raise the trial of Morsi, which opened Monday, in his meetings with interim President Adli Mansour and army chief General Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. At the same time, he tried to balance the US approach by insisting on the need to avoid “politically motivated” and “arbitrary” arrests. Referring directly to the recent US curb on aid to Egypt, the top US diplomat described the measure in a short sentence: “It is not a punishment.” “It's a reflection of policy in the United States under our law,” he elaborated. In direct response to US concerns, Fahmi indicated: “The Egyptian people are aspiring for a democratic system with a civilian government, which will be… which will function according to the norms of a global democracy, irrespective of the fact that we may have some cultural variations here and there in terms of our traditions. The norms of democracy will be respected, and it will be a civilian government. That's why we had two revolutions in two and a half years.” Hours before Kerry's arrival to Cairo, Fahmi revealed in a rare interview with Reuters that Egypt would have to develop “multiple choices, multiple options” to chart its way forward — including military relationships. “We will work in that constructive fashion to develop the (US) relationship, but there is no question in our mind that we will fulfil our national security needs… from whatever source we need,” he elaborated. The top Egyptian diplomat echoed recent demands in the street to build relationships with other major powers, especially Russia, adding that this was possible without necessarily disturbing relations with the United States. “That's Cold War mentality. I'm not trying to bring in Russia vis-à-vis America. I'm trying to bring in 10, 20, 30 new partners for Egypt.” Fahmi continued: “The Egyptian government is committed to diversifying its relationships, not at the expense of our friends but over and above… This is not a position against American policy; it's a position that is consistent with Egypt's interests.” Some analysts believe that such rhetoric can be developed into a “new Egyptian foreign policy doctrine” under a new democratic government in Cairo, furnished with a clear vision of the country's interests in the Middle East and the world. The recent visit of Russia's military intelligence chief to Cairo had caused worry in both Washington and Tel Aviv. Both Cairo and Moscow are keen on developing a new bilateral partnership that could include Egypt purchasing planes and other military equipment. Kerry's second leg was Saudi Arabia, another country that the US administration lost some trust within, because of the US approach to three vital issues: the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the new US policy towards Iran, and the war in Syria. Following his meetings with senior Saudi officials, Kerry confirmed to reporters that the Obama administration would ensure that the relationship with Saudi Arabia was “on track, moving forward and doing the things that we need to accomplish”. He also referred to the ability of both countries to fix recent differences on the civil war in Syria, the Iranian nuclear programme and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last month, Saudi Arabia turned down a two-year seat on the UN Security Council in protest at the inability of the international organisation to resolve the Syrian and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.
