Russia and Egypt Are Reportedly Negotiating Their Largest Arms Deal Since the Cold War

Just one month after the Obama administration announced it was partially suspending military aid to Egypt, Russia appears to be trying to fill that gap, discussing a large arms deal with the Middle Eastern country, according to multiple reports.

Bloomberg reported that for Russia, the arms agreements being discussed would be “its biggest weapons deals with Egypt since the Cold War as it seeks to capitalize on U.S. President Barack Obama’s decision to cut defense aid to the military-backed government.”

Russian Defense Ministry advisory board member Ruslan Pukhov told Bloomberg that the deal could be for weapons totaling as much as $2 billion, which would include MIG-29 fighter jets, air-defense systems and anti-tank missiles. A report in the Palestinian newspaper Donia Al-Watan suggested that the deal could total twice that amount.

Russian MIG-29 fighter jets could be part of a major arms deal between Russia and Egypt. (AP/Misha Japaridze)

Both Russia’s defense and foreign ministers are traveling to Cairo this week for talks about the enhanced relationship, according to Russia’s RIA Novosty, which called the event “a landmark two-day visit."

“The issue of purchasing new Russian weapons should be carefully examined,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy told Russian state-owned RT television Tuesday.

“A Russian warship has docked in Egypt's port of Alexandria in a move that officials said was aimed at bolstering Cairo's relations with Moscow ahead of one of the highest level visits by Russian officials to the country in decades,” Al Jazeera reported.

The missile cruiser Varyag was greeted by a 21-gun salute as it pulled into the Alexandria port in Egypt, according to Al Jazeera.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Badr Abdelatty told Bloomberg that the visit of the senior Russian ministers is aimed at sending “a strong political message that stresses the desire … to bolster relations and cooperate with Egypt in all fields.”

He said this does not mean “substituting one party with another but rather diversifying the alternatives and choices.”

In the wake of the coup that deposed Morsi and elevated the Egyptian military to power this summer, the Obama administration decided to suspend the delivery of tanks, helicopters and fighter jets to Egypt.

According to RIA Novosty, Egypt has not purchased weapons from Russia since the early 1970s, under the Soviet Union.

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