In a move that underscores a high level of strategic importance, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi paid a visit to the Russian capital, Moscow, at the official invitation of President Vladimir Putin to participate in the “Victory Day” celebrations. This visit reflects the depth of Cairo-Moscow relations and highlights Egypt’s pivotal role in both regional and international affairs, particularly the Palestinian cause, while also advancing economic and tourism cooperation between the two nations.
Clear Messages from the El-Sisi–Putin Meeting
Essam Hilal, Assistant Secretary-General of the Future of Homeland Party and Deputy of the Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee in the Senate, stated that the meeting between President El-Sisi and his Russian counterpart Putin carried clear messages. Chief among them was Egypt’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause and rejecting any attempts to undermine it. The discussions reaffirmed the importance of establishing a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders. Hilal emphasized that this position reflects the deep-rooted relations between Egypt and Russia, both of which are key players in international politics and partners in supporting regional stability.
Boosting Economic Cooperation and Strategic Projects
MP Hassan Ammar pointed out that the El-Sisi–Putin summit addressed the strengthening of economic cooperation in sectors such as tourism, energy, grain, and heavy industries. Special focus was placed on the Russian Industrial Zone project in the Suez Canal as a step toward attracting investment. Ammar also underscored the importance of restoring Russian tourism to Egypt as a means of supporting the national economy. Meanwhile, Mohamed Ramadan noted that President El-Sisi’s invitation to attend the “Victory Day” celebration reflects Egypt’s elevated international standing under his leadership and shows a strategic effort to expand relations with major global powers to serve national interests.
Russian Support for Egypt’s Efforts in Gaza
MP Farag Fathy Farag, member of the Senate, described the summit between Presidents El-Sisi and Putin as particularly timely, given the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza. He emphasized that the meeting reinforces Egypt’s central role in achieving regional security and highlighted Russia’s support for Egypt’s efforts to de-escalate tensions and assist in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
Promising Opportunities for Agricultural Exports
In a related context, MP Ibrahim El-Deeb, member of the Agriculture and Irrigation Committee in the House of Representatives, noted that Russia is Egypt’s largest importer of agricultural products, with exports reaching a value of $421 million. He stated that President El-Sisi’s visit paves the way for increased cooperation in the agricultural field and the opening of new markets, especially amid growing political and economic alignment between the two countries. He also stressed the importance of advancing Egyptian agriculture through the use of modern technology.
Renewing and Expanding Relations
Parliamentarians unanimously agreed that President El-Sisi’s visit to Moscow is far from ceremonial. Instead, it represents a significant milestone in enhancing Egypt’s relations with Russia, deepening mutual interests, and supporting peace efforts in the region. This visit further cements Egypt’s role as a pivotal country with broad influence on both the regional and international levels.
