Egypt’s Regional Role and Foreign Policy Imperatives
HE Ahmad Kamal

Egypt, as an Arab country in the Middle East, has a foreign policy that is concerned particularly with other Arab countries. This foreign policy is based on non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, seeking peaceful solutions to conflicts, and encouraging the strengthening of Arab amity.

The Challenges Facing the Arab World

Since the Gulf War, a general atmosphere of disappointment has characterized the region. Economic, political and geopolitical weaknesses have emerged in the Arab World, due, in the main, to bad management concerning the distribution of Arab wealth. The GDP of Arab countries is nearly 25% of the GNP of Japan, 9% of that of the US, and 4% of that of Europe. Moreover, two-thirds of the cultivated areas are found in only five countries, while 85% of the oil production stems from another five countries.

This division among the Arab countries has coincided with a call for a new Middle East, which has given Israel an opportunity to ruin the Arab Common Market and to end Pan-Arabism. Israeli claims that its industry is directed towards European markets are false as the quality levels are below European standards and the competition for markets is high. Deprived of regional markets, the Israeli economy cannot develop. Israel imports 75% of its raw materials and 98% of its energy resources, so the only market that Israel can work within is that of the Middle East.

Egypt’s Policies Concerning Regional Issues:

The achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace is an Egyptian priority. Egypt is a partner in the peace process and believes that stability in the Middle East will lead to economic prosperity.
Egypt supports the Palestinian right to an independent state and self-determination and calls upon Israel to fulfill its obligations towards its partners. Egypt is against settlements in the Occupied Territories, and against any change in the demographic situation in Jerusalem.
Egypt provides the Palestinian negotiating team with advice and know-how, utilizing its experience in negotiating with the Israelis.
In 1996, Egypt hosted the Sharm Al-Sheikh Summit as well as the Arab Summit in August following Netanyahu’s rise to power. The decisions of the summit were all in favor of the Palestine Question.

Egypt’s Policies Concerning States in the Region:

Syria and Lebanon: Egypt refused the ‘Lebanon First’ proposal, supports Syria’s claim to the Golan Heights, and demands Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese occupied territory.
Iraq: Egypt supports the Iraqi people and asks that the sanctions imposed on the country be lifted. Egypt opposes measures directed at harming Iraqi sovereignty.
Sudan: Egypt supports the Sudanese people.
Libya: Egypt believes that the Lockerbie case must be solved according to Scottish law. Libya has accepted this.
Iran: Egypt seeks normal relations with Iran but does not support its role in the Arabian Gulf nor the attempts to export its ‘Islamic revolution.’
Turkey: The Egyptian-Turkish relations are normal. Egypt, however, disapproves of Turkey’s military alliances with Israel.

Egypt is at war with terrorist movements and fights their recruitment activities, their training, and their sources of funds.

Egypt’s Position towards Europe and the US:

Egyptian-US relations are currently tense due to the halt in the peace process.
As for the Russian Federation, Egypt encourages it to fulfill the role of a sponsor of the peace process.
Egypt acknowledges the European role, particularly after the visits of French Prime Minister Jacques Chiraq and British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind to the region. Egypt has refused Rifkind’s proposal to establish a regional cooperation organization since such a body already exists in the form of the Arab League. Europe is suffering from internal divisions and its differences with the US.

Egypt is putting maximum effort into establishing a Middle East free from nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. This raises the level of tension between Egypt and Israel. As a result, Egypt is trying to stimulate the Multilateral Working Group on Disarmament and demands that the Israeli nuclear sites be inspected.

Discussion:

Participant: How would Egypt react in the event of Israeli aggression against Syria?

Ahmad Kamal: Egypt’s position is clear. It will not stand still, neither on the political level nor with regard to Arab coordination. We support Syria.

Participant: What would Egypt’s position be if Israel re-occupied Palestinian towns?

Ahmad Kamal: We support Palestinian control over the land, we refuse the principle of ‘hot pursuit,’ and we refuse the principle of inequality between the parties involved, i.e., Israel and the PNA.