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 Egypt |  Russia |
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| Diplomatic mission | |
| Egyptian Embassy, Moscow | Russian Embassy, Cairo |
 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(March 2025) |
Egypt–Russia relations (Russian:Российско-египетские отношения) are thebilateral relations betweenEgypt andRussia. Diplomatic relations between theSoviet Union and Egypt were established on August 26, 1943. Egypt has anembassy in Moscow, while Russia has anembassy in Cairo and a consulate-general inAlexandria.
Relations between Russia and Egypt have a long history, dating back to before the 16th century. Early on, they were centered on the Russian government's and theRussian Church's support for theGreek Orthodox Church of Alexandria. As early as in 1556,Patriarch Joachim of Alexandria sent a letter to the Russian TzarIvan IV, asking the Orthodox monarch to provide some material assistance for theSaint Catherine's Monastery in theSinai Peninsula, which had suffered from the Turks. In 1558, theCzar sent to Egypt a delegation led by archdeacon Gennady, who, however, died in Constantinople before he could reach Egypt. From then on, the embassy was headed by aSmolensk merchant, Vasily Poznyakov. Poznyakov's delegation visited Alexandria, Cairo, and Sinai, brought the patriarch afur coat and an icon sent by the Tzar. Poznyakov's account of its two and half years' travels, which may have been the first ever Russian first-hand African trip report, became popular among Russian readers for centuries to follow.[1]
Russia continued to provide support to Egyptian Christians for centuries to come.
During theRusso-Turkish War of 1768–1774, Russia supported theMamluks of Egypt against the Ottomans. The Russians sent multiple expeditions to theLevant. In the first half of the 19th century, Russia and Egypt were at odds over the fate of the Ottoman Empire.In the 1950s,Gamal Abdel Nasser's independent and anti-imperialist policy earned him enthusiastic support from the Communist government of the USSR. In 1955, Egypt made a major arms deal with Soviet Union, and from then, teams of Egyptian officers were trained in Eastern Bloc countries. Czechoslovak instructors also came in 1956, to train Egyptian personnel in the use of Soviet weapons. When France attacked Egypt duringSuez Crisis, USSR threatened to use destructive weapons i.e. nuclear weapons for the defense of Egypt.[2] The degree of the Soviet approval of the Egyptian leader's policies culminated, rather controversially, in the award of the highest Soviet decoration, the star of theHero of the Soviet Union with theOrder of Lenin to Nasser duringNikita Khrushchev's visit to the country in 1964.
During the Nasser years, many young Egyptians studied in Soviet universities and military schools. Among them was the future president,Hosni Mubarak, who went for training in amilitary pilot school in Kyrgyzstan.[3] During theWar of Attrition, USSR sent 10-15000 servicemen to operate the air defense of Egypt against Israeli air attacks.
The relationship went sour within years after the death of Nasser, when the new president,Anwar Sadat, started re-orienting the country toward the West. On May 27, 1971, the Soviet-Egyptian Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation was signed between the two countries,[4] but relations were nevertheless declining. In July 1972, it was claimed the Egyptian government expelled Soviet military advisors from Egypt, however new research indicates that this was disinformation to hide Egypt's offensive plans,[5] and captured Egyptian documents demonstrate that Soviet advisors continued in their previous roles of training Egyptian troops, and were certainly present during the war in 1973.[6] During theYom Kippur War, Soviet Union sent several thousands of tonnes of aid to Egypt. Brezhnev threatened to intervene on behalf of Egypt if Israel broke the ceasefire. Lieutenant General Anatoly Pushkin claimed that 1500 Soviet pilots and air defense experts engaged in combat for Egypt during the war.[7] In March 1976 Egypt abrogated the friendship treaty, and relations between the two countries were damaged once again when Egypt supported theMujahadeen inAfghanistanwhen the USSR invaded in 1979.[8][9] In September 1981, these relations were severed by the Egyptian government, accusing Soviet leadership of trying to undermine Sadat's leadership in retaliation to the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty.[10] Relations were reestablished under presidentHosni Mubarak in 1984, andAlexander Belonogov became the Ambassador. In February 1989, Soviet Minister of Foreign AffairsEduard Shevardnadze visited Egypt.
Intergovernmental relations improved after the fall of Communism in the USSR, and Russia's appearance as an independent political actor.
In April 2005, the Russian President,Vladimir Putin, visited Egypt, and Egyptian PresidentHosni Mubarak visited Russia in April 2008. Both countries agreed to work together to help Egypt create a nuclear program which is mostly for civilian purposes. In May 2013, Egyptian PresidentMohamed Morsi visited Russia.
Relations between the two countries improved even further following theremoval ofMohamed Morsi from office in July 2013. Both countries have since then worked closely to strengthen military and trade ties,[12] among other aspects of bilateral cooperation.[13] From 2009 to 2018, Russia accounted for 31% of Egypt's imports of major weapons.[14]
In November 2013, Egypt's then Defense MinisterAbdel Fattah al-Sisi and Foreign MinisterNabil Fahmy met with their Russian counterparts, Defense MinisterSergei Shoigu and Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov who were on a visit to Cairo. Fahmy stated that Egypt wished to return to Soviet-level relations with Russia, and Shoigu hinted that there may be military cooperation between the Russian and Egyptian navies and air forces.[15]Badr Abdelatty, an Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman, stated that Egypt was seeking to increase the independence of its foreign policy.[16] It was the first meeting of its kind since the Soviet era.[17]
Since then, Egyptian and Russian leaders have exchanged two rounds of four-way visits in both Cairo and Moscow. Sisi went to Russia twice in 2014: in February, when he was still Egypt's defense minister, and in August afterhis election as president.[18] The February meeting was Sisi's first visit abroad following Mohamed Morsi's removal,[19] during which Russian presidentVladimir Putin offered him Russia's backing in his race for the presidency of Egypt before Sisi even officially announced his campaign.[20]
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Sisi made his second visit on August 12 at the Black Sea resort ofSochi, and it was his first to a non-Arab or African country since his inauguration as president two months earlier.[21] During the visit, both him and Putin agreed on boosting bilateral cooperation between the two countries.[22] Putin promised to speed up arms sales to Egypt. "We are actively developing our military and technological cooperation," Putin told Sisi. He added that a corresponding protocol was signed in March and that weapons are being delivered to Egypt.[17]
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Trade and economic investment plans were also announced during the meeting,[21] during which Putin said that Egypt was discussing afree trade zone with the Russian-ledEurasian Customs Union which also includes Belarus and Kazakhstan.[citation needed] Additionally, both leaders have discussed plans to establish a Russian industrial zone in theNew Suez Canal project that was recently inaugurated by Sisi,[23] as well as another plan to renew and redevelop important projects that were established by the former Soviet Union.[21]
In September 2014, a preliminary deal was reached between both countries to buy arms worth $3.5 billion from Russia, despiteinternational sanctions on Moscow as a result of its involvement in thewar in Donbas.[24]
As a result of theMetrojet Flight 9268 crash on October 31, 2015, which carried 224 passengers on board toward Russia, both countries were planning investigating the crash.
On November 28, 2015, Egypt and Russia signed a deal which would allow Russian and Egyptian warplanes to use each other's airbases and airspace.[25][26][27] Both countries could be described as "close allies" as Putin usually referred to Sisi as a "Trusted and Close Partner." On 11 December 2017, during President Vladimir Putin's visit to Cairo, the two countries signed agreements in which Russia would build Egypt's firstnuclear reactor, and supplynuclear fuel for the same. It was also agreed that a "Russian Industrial Zone" would be built along theSuez Canal, explained by Putin as being "the biggest regional center for producing Russian products onto the markets of the Middle-East andNorth Africa."[28]
Russia has supported the Syrian government in theSyrian civil war, and intervened militarily in its favor in 2015. Egypt also supports the Syrian government in the Civil War.[29][30][31][32] In 2020, Egypt was reported to have deployed 150 troops to help the Syrian government.[33] Egypt openly backed theHouse of Representatives in theSecond Libyan Civil War, while the Russian mercenary organizationWagner Group also supported the House of Representatives' forces.
In Summer 2020, Egypt received fiveSu-35 jets from Russia, despite a threat from the United States that it would violate international sanctions.[34] However, the Russian journalist who revealed the transaction, Ivan Safronov, was detained for disclosing a state secret.[35]
Egypt voted in favor of theUnited Nations resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and calling for a withdrawal of Russia's forces from the country. However, President Sisi called President Putin on March 9 to clarify Egypt's vote and both countries said they would keep working together to develop their strategic partnership. Egypt has rejectedeconomic sanctions against Russia. In fact, the country has encouraged theMir payment system to stimulate Russian trade and tourism with Egypt.[36]
During the2023 Russia–Africa Summit, Egyptian PresidentAbdel Fattah el-Sisi urged Vladimir Putin to renew thegrain deal and allow Ukraine to export grain via theBlack Sea route.[37][38] In August 2023, a Russian drone attack on theport of Izmail in southern Ukraine destroyed 13,000 tons of grain destined for Egypt and Romania.[39]
On 23 August 2023, at the15th BRICS summit, Russia along with the other members ofBRICS formally invited Egypt to join the organization. Egypt became a full member starting 1 January 2024.[40]
On 27 March 2025, a tragic event occurred when a tourist submarine operated bySindbad Submarines sank nearHurghada, killing six Russian tourists and injuring 29 others. The submarine, carrying 45 Russian passengers and five Egyptian crew members, was on an underwater excursion to observe coral reefs when it sank. Despite the high number of casualties, the incident was swiftly managed by local rescue teams, and investigations were initiated to determine the cause. This event was part of a series of recent tourist-related accidents in theRed Sea region.[41][42]
The relationship between Egypt and Russia has been marked by Russian tourism's growing importance to Egypt's economy, with Russia ranking as one of the largest sources of tourists, particularly in resorts like Hurghada, a major destination for Russian nationals.[41][42]
Russians constitute the largest group of outsiders to visit Egypt, while Russia is popular with Egyptian tourists as well.[citation needed] As of 2015[update] Egypt is the most popular tourist destination for Russians traveling abroad—a basic vacation package including flight, hotel and meals can be purchased for as little as US$1,000.[43]
In August 2021, direct commercial flights between Russia and Egypt resumed for the first time since the Metrojet Flight 9268 bombing in 2015, which killed 224 people, most of whom were Russian tourists. ARossiya Airlines passenger plane landed inSharm El Sheikh carrying 518 passengers, and was welcomed with a water cannon salute, roses and flags.[44]
In 2006, theEgyptian Russian University was opened inBadr City,Cairo, offering training in pharmacy and engineering.[45][46][47][48] Many of its students visitIzhevsk, Russia, for additional classroom study and summer internships.[49] Plans are under way to add a program in nuclear power engineering as well.[50]
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