On Monday the so-called 2+2 formula for strategic bilateral relations brought together Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and Defence Minister General Sidki Sobhi with their Russian counterparts Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoygu. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi received the members of both sides of the talks which, over three meetings, addressed crucial issues of concern on the bilateral, regional and international level. In economic talks the two sides focused on tourism and the resumption of Russian flights to Egypt and industrial, commercial and agricultural partnerships. On a military level they discussed the possibilities of greater cooperation over training, armaments, exchange of information and expertise, and developing Egypt's military capabilities. Diplomatic affairs intersected with security concerns as the two sides explored a range of issues from the Palestinian cause to the crises in Libya and Syria and counterterrorism programmes. Another strategic issue broached was the construction of the Sabgha nuclear generator. Commenting on the meetings Presidential Spokesman Alaa Youssef said the Russians were keen to “overhaul the legal framework of relations by updating and upgrading the 2009 strategic cooperation agreement so it accurately reflects the special character of Egyptian-Russian relations”. Before the meeting between the ministers of defence Sobhi, in his capacity as general commander of the Egyptian Armed Forces, delivered a brief speech welcoming Shoygu and his delegation in which he stressed how the Egyptian Armed Forces cherished the historic relations binding the two countries. He added that Egypt was looking forward to discussing all issues of mutual concern and developing strategic cooperation between Egypt and Russia.The meeting broached regional and international challenges in light of the latest developments in the Middle East. Terrorism and extremism, which have become a grave threat to international peace and security, topped the agenda. Egypt's defence minister praised Russia's efforts in support of Egypt and the Egyptian drive to eliminate terrorism and extremism. Russian Defence Minister Shoygu took the opportunity to underscore the great value his country attaches to the relations it has with Egypt. Noting the progress the two countries were making in military cooperation across many fields and in coordinating and consulting issues of mutual concern, he lauded the role Egypt has played in efforts to strengthen the security and stability of the Middle East. Following their bilateral talks the Egyptian and Russian defence ministers joined the two countries' foreign ministers in a meeting. In a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Lavrov, Shoukri said Moscow and Cairo had coordinated within the framework of the UN Security Council over several crucial issues and the two sides were working together to strengthen counterterrorism efforts. He also used the occasion to underline that terrorist camps in Libya constitute a direct threat to Egypt's national security. Lavrov revealed their meeting had covered security-related issues in Syria and the situation in North Africa, and in Libya in particular. The two sides also discussed ways to resolve the Palestinian cause, support for Cairo's role in promoting initiatives to bridge the points of views between rival factions in Libya and, locally, the resumption of Russian flights to Egypt, suspended following the 2015 downing of a Russian aircraft over Sinai. The Egyptian-Russian talks were held as Cairo embarked on an intensive aerial assault against extremist groups in Libya affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS). The campaign began on Friday, targeting camps belonging to the Shura Council of Derna Mujahideen, and then extending to Jafra which harbours terrorist groups affiliated with IS. Veteran political observer Vyacheslav Matuzov told Al-Ahram Weekly by phone from Moscow that the inherently strategic nature of Egyptian-Russian relations made such high level visits essential. He added that international political developments and changes relating to regional security lent particular significance to the current visit which reflected the depth of bilateral cooperation between the two countries at a critical juncture. “We could call this a new phase in the evolution of the bilateral relationship,” he said.Cairo and Moscow are working closely on counter-terrorism and the Syrian conflict is naturally a factor in this cooperation. The rise of Libya as a base for terrorist groups in the post-IS phase in Syria means Egypt's western neighbour has also become a focus for Russian-Egyptian cooperation. Egypt is Russia's portal to the Arab world and Cairo's policies on the war on terror in Libya have the consensus of other Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, two facts that have led Moscow to attach great importance to coordinating efforts to eradicate the terrorists' strongholds across Egypt's western border. However significant the Egyptian-Russian talks it remains important to note that despite Cairo's repeated calls for the resumption of Russian tourist flights to Egypt, and the fact Egypt has met all the conditions Russia asked for, Moscow continues to procrastinate. Lavrov, in his statements, said Russian flights would resume soon but offered no specific date. The construction of Egypt's first nuclear energy plant received relatively little attention in the talks and an agreement has yet to be signed. International relations expert Tarek Fahmi says this may be a result of Moscow's concern at resumption of a dynamic relationship between Cairo and Washington on the military and strategic levels. Perhaps, he said, Russia wants to test how Egypt stands in respect to the revival of its relationship with Washington and how this might impact on its relationship with Moscow.
