Leaked document reveals Egypt's plans for arms negotiations with Russia
11 April 2023
A leaked US intelligence document has revealed that Egyptian President Abel Fattah El-Sisi planned to provide Russia with tens of thousands of rockets in a secret arms negotiation. The Washington Post obtained the classified files, which included conversations between high-level Egyptian officials discussing the sale of weapons to Russia, through the gaming platform Discord.
According to the document, Sisi instructed officials to keep the shipment and mass weapon production secret "to avoid problems with the West." The document, dated February 17, contained discussions among Egyptian officials about supplying their Russian counterparts with gunpowder and artillery from Egyptian factories.
Egypt, a long-time US ally receiving over $1 billion in military aid annually, has deepened relations with Moscow under El-Sisi's rule. The revelation, which was first reported by the Post, could have a chilling effect on US-Egypt relations and potentially lead to sanctions if Egypt did indeed supply weapons to Russia covertly.
US security officials have informed the Post that the large weapons deal never appeared to materialize in the past months.
Last week, a trove of classified US documents leaked online, revealing new wrinkles about Russia's campaign in Ukraine and key details about Ukraine's military. It is still unclear who leaked the documents, which could pose grave concerns for the US, as some documents include classified analyses about China, detailed breakdowns of Russia and Ukraine's strategies in the war, and information about confidential sources. The Pentagon has referred the leak to the US Department of Justice to investigate.
Egypt's ambassador to the US, Ahmed Abu Zeid, and the spokesman for the country's Foreign Ministry told the Post that "Egypt's position from the beginning is based on non-involvement in this crisis and committing to maintain equal distance with both sides, while affirming Egypt's support to the U.N. charter and international law in the U.N. General Assembly resolutions. We continue to urge both parties to cease hostilities and reach a political solution through negotiations."
According to the document, Sisi instructed officials to keep the shipment and mass weapon production secret "to avoid problems with the West." The document, dated February 17, contained discussions among Egyptian officials about supplying their Russian counterparts with gunpowder and artillery from Egyptian factories.
Egypt, a long-time US ally receiving over $1 billion in military aid annually, has deepened relations with Moscow under El-Sisi's rule. The revelation, which was first reported by the Post, could have a chilling effect on US-Egypt relations and potentially lead to sanctions if Egypt did indeed supply weapons to Russia covertly.
US security officials have informed the Post that the large weapons deal never appeared to materialize in the past months.
Last week, a trove of classified US documents leaked online, revealing new wrinkles about Russia's campaign in Ukraine and key details about Ukraine's military. It is still unclear who leaked the documents, which could pose grave concerns for the US, as some documents include classified analyses about China, detailed breakdowns of Russia and Ukraine's strategies in the war, and information about confidential sources. The Pentagon has referred the leak to the US Department of Justice to investigate.
Egypt's ambassador to the US, Ahmed Abu Zeid, and the spokesman for the country's Foreign Ministry told the Post that "Egypt's position from the beginning is based on non-involvement in this crisis and committing to maintain equal distance with both sides, while affirming Egypt's support to the U.N. charter and international law in the U.N. General Assembly resolutions. We continue to urge both parties to cease hostilities and reach a political solution through negotiations."
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