Simone Lawson
Egypt has long been a significant geostrategic ally of the United States, with strong diplomatic ties between the two countries. The United States established diplomatic relations with Egypt in 1922, following Egypt's independence from the United Kingdom. Since then, the two countries have shared mutual interests in Middle East peace and stability, economic opportunity, and regional security. Egypt's unique geographical position, its large population, and its relationship with Israel are all factors that have contributed to its importance in US foreign policy. The United States has provided Egypt with significant military and economic aid over the years, and American firms are active in many sectors of the Egyptian economy. The two countries have also collaborated on cultural and educational initiatives.
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What You'll Learn
- US-Egypt relations were dictated by regional issues in the Middle East, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- The US and Egypt share membership in international organisations like the UN, IMF, World Bank, and WTO
- The US has invested in Egypt's telecommunications sector and provided scholarships to Egyptian and American students
- Egypt's unique geographical positioning makes it a keystone to achieving stability in the Middle East
- The US and Egypt have a history of diplomatic relations, with the US providing military and economic aid to Egypt
US-Egypt relations were dictated by regional issues in the Middle East, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
US-Egypt relations have been dictated by regional issues in the Middle East, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The US and Egypt have had a complex relationship, influenced by various factors such as the Cold War, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and Egypt's domestic politics.
During the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, Egypt, along with other Arab nations, invaded the former Palestinian mandate following Israel's declaration of independence. Despite maintaining an arms embargo during the war, the US had offered de facto recognition of the Israeli Provisional Government a year earlier. In the following years, the US and Egypt had a strained relationship due to Egypt's pro-Soviet policies and anti-Israeli rhetoric, with the US preparing the OMEGA Memorandum to reduce the regional power of Egypt's president, Gamal Abdel Nasser.
However, in 1956, when Israel, along with Britain and France, invaded the Suez Canal, the US used diplomatic and economic pressure to force the withdrawal of British and French troops, leading to a temporary improvement in Egyptian-US relations. After Nasser's death, his successor, Anwar Sadat, sought to improve relations with the US and pursued a peace process with Israel, which was supported by the US. This resulted in the Camp David Accords and a historic peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in 1979.
Despite this improvement, regional issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, continued to impact US-Egypt relations. Egypt has played a significant role in efforts to end the periodic military confrontations and wars in Gaza, particularly since Hamas took control in 2007. Egypt's involvement stems from its desire to maintain its credibility with both Israelis and Palestinians and its belief in the need for a two-state solution.
In recent years, the US-Egypt relationship has been influenced by Egypt's human rights record and the US's support for the regime of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The Trump administration's proposal to relocate Palestinian refugees to Egypt has been met with opposition from Cairo, while President Biden has emphasized the need for a two-state solution. The US has provided significant military and economic aid to Egypt, totaling $71.6 billion between 1948 and 2011, reflecting the importance of maintaining strong ties with Egypt in the context of regional issues in the Middle East.
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The US and Egypt share membership in international organisations like the UN, IMF, World Bank, and WTO
The United States and Egypt are both members of several prominent international organisations, including the United Nations (UN), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization (WTO). These shared memberships provide a platform for both countries to engage and interact on a global stage, contributing to their respective diplomatic relations and international cooperation.
The UN, with its 193 member states, is dedicated to maintaining world peace, protecting human rights, and upholding international law. Both the US and Egypt have a history of engaging with the UN to address regional issues, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and promoting their respective interests. The organisation's resolutions are binding under international law, and its peacekeeping forces play a crucial role in conflict zones.
The IMF, with its 191 members, focuses on fostering global monetary cooperation, ensuring financial stability, and promoting sustainable economic growth. Both the US and Egypt have had their economic policies influenced by the IMF, and the organisation's assistance programs have impacted their relationship, as seen in the case of the Suez Canal crisis.
The World Bank, as a member-driven organisation, shares a similar goal of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. Through their membership in the World Bank, the US and Egypt have opportunities to collaborate on development initiatives and contribute to global efforts to reduce poverty.
Additionally, the WTO, while not explicitly mentioning Egypt or the US on its list of members and observers, plays a crucial role in regulating international trade and providing a platform for trade negotiations. Both countries have a vested interest in maintaining stable economic relations through organisations like the WTO.
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The US has invested in Egypt's telecommunications sector and provided scholarships to Egyptian and American students
The United States and Egypt have had a complex relationship, largely dictated by regional issues in the Middle East, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, counterterrorism, and Egypt's human rights record. The US has sought to promote a stable and prosperous Egypt, and the two countries share a strong partnership based on mutual interests in Middle East peace, economic opportunity, and regional security.
In line with this, the US has invested significantly in Egypt's telecommunications sector. As of 2016, Egypt's telecommunications sector was strongly positioned for future growth, with more than 95 million mobile subscribers. The US government has invested $604 million to grow and digitize this sector, with initiatives such as updating mobile networks and allocating new frequencies to mobile network operators. Egypt's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector has a high growth rate, contributing an estimated 5% to Egypt's GDP in fiscal year 2020/2021. The country has witnessed an acceleration of its digital transformation plan, with the government investing heavily in the new city's telecommunications and ICT infrastructure.
The US has also provided scholarships and exchange opportunities to more than 23,000 Egyptian and American students and mid-career professionals, to the tune of $350 million. These scholarships and exchange programs are designed to enable youth to improve their English and other skills and spend an exchange year in the United States.
The US has been the largest provider of bilateral military and economic aid to Egypt, with a cumulative total of $71.6 billion between 1948 and 2011. The two countries signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty in 1986 to promote and facilitate investment, and total bilateral trade in goods between them stood at $9.1 billion in 2021, the highest level ever.
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Egypt's unique geographical positioning makes it a keystone to achieving stability in the Middle East
Egypt's unique geographical position has made it a keystone to achieving stability in the Middle East. As the most populous country in the Arab world, Egypt can help build public support among other moderate populations in the region. It is advocating for religious tolerance, education reform, and women's empowerment, and is already leading the Arab world by example in these areas. Egyptian-produced media, including movies, entertainment programs, and talk shows, are the most-watched across the Arab world. This gives Egypt a powerful platform to spread its message of moderation and tolerance.
Egypt's large population also gives it significant economic and political influence in the region. As a result, Egypt has long been a significant geostrategic ally of the United States. The two countries share mutual interests in Middle East peace and stability, economic opportunity, and regional security. The United States has provided Egypt with substantial military and economic aid over the years, totaling $71.6 billion between 1948 and 2011, making Egypt one of the largest recipients of American aid during that period. American firms are active in most sectors of the Egyptian economy, including oil and gas, renewable energy, financial services, manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, and information technology. The two countries have also signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty and a trade and investment framework agreement to promote freer trade and increase investment flows.
Egypt's strategic location, particularly its control of the Suez Canal, has also been important to the United States. The Suez Canal is a crucial waterway for international trade and military purposes. In 1956, the United States forced Britain, France, and Israel to withdraw their troops from the canal, which had been seized during the Suez Crisis. This action demonstrated the importance the United States placed on maintaining stability in the region and protecting its interests in the Suez Canal.
In addition to its geostrategic importance, Egypt's relationship with Israel has been a key factor in its relations with the United States. Egypt's shift from a hostile position under President Gamal Abdel Nasser to a peace agreement with Israel in 1979 under President Anwar Sadat was a pivotal moment in Egyptian-American relations. This shift signaled a new era of diplomacy in the region and normalization with Israel, which is the closest American ally in the Middle East. Egypt's current regime, led by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, has continued to maintain strong relations with both Israel and the United States, despite controversies over human rights issues and domestic concerns about Sisi's rule.
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The US and Egypt have a history of diplomatic relations, with the US providing military and economic aid to Egypt
The United States and Egypt have a long history of diplomatic relations, with the US providing significant military and economic aid to Egypt over the years. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1922, after Egypt gained independence from British rule.
Egypt's strategic location, the Suez Canal, and shared economic and cultural concerns have made it a significant geostrategic ally for the United States. Egypt is also one of the leading recipients of US foreign aid, receiving $1.75 billion in 2010, and a cumulative total of $71.6 billion in bilateral military and economic aid between 1948 and 2011. American firms are active in most sectors of the Egyptian economy, including oil and gas, renewable energy, financial services, manufacturing, and telecommunications. The US has also invested in modernizing Egyptian infrastructure, with $5.9 billion in imports of US commodities, and in growing Egypt's telecommunications sector with a $604 million investment.
The relationship between the two countries has been influenced by regional issues in the Middle East, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and counterterrorism efforts. The US has supported Egyptian regimes that promote US and Israeli interests in the region, including the governments of Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak. A pivotal moment in the relationship came in 1979 when Egypt signed a peace agreement with Israel, marking a shift from the previous Egyptian administration's anti-Israel stance. This agreement was brokered by US President Jimmy Carter and resulted in Egypt receiving $1.3 billion in annual military aid from the US.
Despite setbacks and controversies, the US and Egypt continue to maintain a strong partnership based on mutual interests in Middle East peace and stability, economic opportunity, and regional security. The US government has also provided scholarships and exchange opportunities worth $350 million to Egyptian and American students and professionals, as well as $100 million to conserve Egypt's cultural heritage. Both countries are part of several international organizations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the World Bank, and engage in regular strategic dialogues to discuss issues of mutual interest and collaboration.
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Frequently asked questions
Egypt has long been a significant geostrategic ally for the United States. This is due to its strategic location, the Suez Canal, and economic and cultural concerns. Egypt has received large amounts of arms supplies, as well as political and diplomatic support from the US.
The United States established diplomatic relations with Egypt in 1922, following Egypt’s independence from its protectorate status under the United Kingdom. The US has provided strong support to Egyptian governments that supported US and Israeli interests in the region, especially Egyptian Presidents Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak. The US and Egypt share mutual interests in Middle East peace and stability, economic opportunity, and regional security.
The US and Egypt continue to have a strong partnership, with both countries belonging to several of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. The US and Egypt also have a Bilateral Investment Treaty and a trade and investment framework agreement to promote freer trade and increase investment flows. In 2021, total bilateral trade in goods between the two countries stood at $9.1 billion, the highest level ever.
