Egypt’s Foreign Policy under President Abd al-Fattah as-Sisi Cover Image

Polityka zagraniczna Egiptu w okresie prezydentury Abd al-Fattaha as-Sisiego
Egypt’s Foreign Policy under President Abd al-Fattah as-Sisi

Author(s): Jolanta Sierańska
Subject(s): Politics, Economy, Sociology
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar Sp. z o.o.
Keywords: Egypt; foreign policy; Abd al-Fattah as-Sisi; economic crisis; political instability; Arab countries; Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC); Middle East; North Africa; dysfunctional countries; Islamic extr

Summary/Abstract: The article defines and analyses Egypt’s foreign policy over the three-year period of Abd al-Fatta h as-Sisi’s presidency, its strategic goals and main directions, as well as its most significant instrument, which is entering into international alliances. President as-Sisi and his team take efforts to restore Egypt as the leader of the Arab world and to influence the balance of power in the Middle East and beyond, including in North Africa. Due to a serious economic crisis in Egypt, cooperation and maintaining strong ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, especially Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, is of great importance. Egypt needs their financial support because of an ambitious reform programme adopted in November 2016 by the Egyptian authorities which is being implemented with the support of the International Monetary Fund. The return to allied cooperation with the US, the search for new cooperation options, i.a. establishing closer ties with Russia, the continuation of very good or even strategic cooperation with Israel, broadening cooperation with France in the field of archaeology, science, research and technology, as well as the need to intensify economic ties with Italy are all examined. The article presents the outcome of Egyptian diplomatic successes and weaknesses, as well as the impact of internal economic-political destabilisation after the Arab Spring and the situation in the dysfunctional countries of the Middle East and North Africa for a more effective accomplishment of the priorities in Egypt’s foreign policy. The internal and external challenges and threats, including Egypt’s struggle with Islamic extremism (jihadism) in the Sinai Peninsula have been emphasized.

  • Issue Year: 53/2017
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 169-191
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: Polish