President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi headed a delegation including Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and Chief of Presidential Staff Hesham Al-Sherif to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 10 August to meet with King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz Al-Saud. During the one-day visit, the two leaders discussed the challenges facing the Arab and Muslim world as well other issues of common concern. The meeting, which took place in Jeddah, reviewed regional developments, particularly the situation in Gaza and Egypt's diplomatic efforts to spare the lives of Palestinian civilians within the framework of the initiative to reach a stable truce. The initiative will form the basis for future negotiations on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Also discussed was the situation in Iraq in light of the expanding cycle of terrorism in the region, as well as developments in Syria and Libya and their repercussions on Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Arab national security. Presidential spokesman Ehab Badawi said that the two leaders agreed to promote the interests of the Arab and Muslim worlds, encourage integration and solidarity, and promote joint Arab action. “The two leaders also discussed efforts to disseminate the moderate and true nature of Islam, which renounces violence, extremism and terrorism, and to rectify the distorted image of Islam that mistakenly associates it with terrorism and violence,” he said. Badawi said the visit comes at a sensitive time given the developments and challenges currently facing the Arab world. “Confronting challenges that pose a significant risk for the whole region requires greater cooperation from both the Egyptian and Saudi sides,” he said. Al-Sisi also met with a large group of Saudi businessman who hope to increase their investments in Egypt. The businessmen said the Saudi private sector is interested in contributing to the Suez Canal development project, the agricultural sector, and development of the area surrounding the Cairo International Airport, among other projects. Meanwhile, in a press release, Abdel-Hameed Al-Morsi, secretary-general of the Saudi-Egyptian Business Council, announced that although Al-Sisi's visit to Saudi Arabia is more political than economic, the council would launch an initiative to establish three new Saudi companies in Egypt. Egypt's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Afifi Abdel-Wahab, said that relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt make up the core of the Arab nation, encompassing the region's security and stability. “The two brotherly countries historical ties form a bridge based on strong partnership in all aspects of the interests of the two peoples and the Arab and Muslim world,” he said. “Egypt, its people and officials highly appreciate King Abdullah's honourable position on Egypt.” It was a message that Al-Sisi was keen to deliver during his visit, he added. At the end of their talks, King Abdullah granted Al-Sisi the Order of King Abdel-Aziz Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's highest honour. Following the award, Al-Sisi and King Al-Saud held an hour-long one-to-one meeting. Later President Al-Sisi and the accompanying delegation attended a banquet hosted by his Royal Highness Prince Mugrin bin Abdel-Aziz, deputy crown prince and second deputy to the prime minister. Saudi Arabia has been a strong supporter of Egypt since the toppling of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last July. Since then, King Abdullah voiced his country's support for Egypt's stand against terrorism, and was quick to congratulate Al-Sisi after his victory in the presidential elections in May. Currently, Saudi Arabia is coordinating with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt to hold a “Friends of Egypt” conference in late 2014 or early 2015. In June, Al-Sisi met with the Saudi King on the latter's plane during a stopover in Cairo to discuss preparations for the conference as well as bilateral relations and Egypt's role in the region. Al-Sisi also paid a short visit to Russia on 12–13 August, after receiving an invitation from Russia's President Vladimir Putin. After the welcome ceremony, Al-Sisi joined Putin for a tour of the country's winter Olympic facilities. Later in the day, the two presidents held talks at Bocharov Ruchei, the presidential residence at the Black Sea resort of Sochi. The Kremlin's press service said Putin and Al-Sisi focused on trade and economic relations, discussing the creation of a free trade zone between Egypt and the Russia-led Customs Union, which also includes Belarus and Kazakhstan. Following the ban on the importation of agricultural products from the United States and the European Union, Russia has been looking for alternatives, and Egypt is willing to boost its export of fruit and vegetables for that purpose. In return, Russia could profit from Egypt's high demand for wheat. Foremost among the regional and international affairs they reviewed were the situations in the Gaza Strip and Libya. “The discussion addressed urgent matters, linked to the development of Russian-Egyptian relations in various spheres,” a Kremlin official said. Al-Sisi's visit to Russia came following rumours of an alleged $3 billion arms deal, said to be the result of the visit of Russia's foreign and defence ministers to Egypt last November. Egypt's Foreign Ministry denied that a deal was signed, but added, “Anything is possible.” According to Badawi, “Moscow is expected to send to CairoRussia's high-tech military products, including 24 Mikoyan MiG–29 fighter jets, as well as its Kornet anti-tank missile systems, attack helicopters Kamov Ka–25, Mil Mi–28 and Mi–25.” Badawi said that the talks also addressed the situation in Iraq and the need to preserve its territorial integrity as well as the Syrian crisis and the importance of reaching a settlement that preserves its unity and spares the lives of its people. “Al-Sisi thoroughly discussed with Putin the need for concerted efforts by the international community to combat the threat of terrorism,” he said. Boosting Egyptian-Russian relations in all fields topped the agenda, however. “Al-Sisi had previously stated Egypt is eager to expand and upgrade its relations with all friendly nations that share Egypt's view of the importance of refraining from intervention in other countries' internal affairs and respecting the dignity and free will of their peoples,” said Badawi. In this context, the Russian president was briefed about the latest political and economic developments in Egypt with a special focus on economic and investment opportunities. According to Badawi, Egypt is currently drafting a new legislative package to improve the investment climate, making it more conducive to foreign investment in general and Russian investment in particular. “Talks also included enhancing cooperation in the field of tourism, given that Russia represents a significant proportion of tourists visiting Egypt, as well as cooperation in the fields of culture, science and technology.” In a phone conversation with Al-Sisi last week, Putin lauded Egypt for mediating negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Both leaders agreed to “encourage a nationwide dialogue, aimed at settling contentious issues through political means,” according to the Kremlin. The former Soviet Union was Egypt's main supplier of arms in the 1960s and early 1970s, but cooperation between the two countries ended after Israel and Egypt signed the Camp David Accords and the US replaced Russia as Egypt's principal arms supplier.
