Alwaght- Saudi Arabia and Egypt are headed to separate ways after a brief alliance following sharp differences over Syria.
Last week, Egypt voted in favor of a Russian-sponsored UN Security Council resolution regarding the bombardment of Aleppo.
Russia has been hitting terrorists who want to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo, while Saudi Arabia supports the same terrorists.
Egypt’s U.N. Ambassador Amr Aboulatta, defended his support for both Russian and French drafts, saying his country backed all efforts to stop the suffering of the Syrians.
In a pointer that ties between Cairo and Riyadh have taken a nosedive, the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Egypt left Cairo on Wednesday heading for Riyadh in what analysts believe is a result of an ongoing feud between the two countries over Syria.
Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper said Kattan was on a three-day trip to Riyadh however critics believe his sudden departure is a sign of a growing rift between the two countries which has seen Saudi’s national petrol company, Aramco, ceased deliveries to the north African country.
The Saudi regime opposed to Russia’s military intervention in Syria while under President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Cairo, has not publicly spoken against the Assad government or the Russian intervention.
El Sisi views the Takfiri terrorist groups opposed to Assad as reflection of the threats he faces at home. The Saudi regime also expected that Egypt would send its troops to support the Riyadh-led aggression against Yemen but El Sisi has resisted to be pushed into the Yemen quagmire. The Saudis have also been upset by meetings between Egyptian officials and representatives of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement.
Elsewhere, Saudi oil supplies to Egypt have been halted since the beginning of the month, an Egyptian official told Reuters. Riyadh has a deal with Cairo to provide 700,000 tonnes of refined oil products monthly for five years. The $23bn agreement was signed between Saudi Aramco and Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) during the visit of Saudi King Salman to Egypt last year.
Iran slated to supply egypt with oil after saudi withdrawal
The Egyptian government has meanwhile said it has secured fuel imports to make up for a shortfall caused by Saudi Arabia’s abrupt decision to halt previously agreed shipments.
Reports indicate that Egypt has been offered refined oil products for October from several countries including Iran, Russia and Venezuela after Saudi’s oil giant Aramco terminated the delivery of 700,000 tons expected for this month, the petroleum ministry announced on Friday.
In another move set to anger the Saudi regime, Russia and Egypt announced this week they would hold joint military exercises on Egyptian soil for the first time this month. Russia is building Egypt's first nuclear plant.
The Egyptian government reckons the Saudi regime is in a quandary as far as regional affairs are concerned and has therefore decided to use the opportunity to front its own regional objectives. On the other hand Cairo is boosting its foreign currency reserves using Saudi petrodollars.
Sherif Ismail, the Egyptian prime minister, announced that Egypt received a deposit of $2 billion from Saudi Arabia in September. Earlier this month, Egypt’s central bank announced that the country’s foreign exchange reserves rose from $16.564 billion in late August to $19.582 billion by the end of September, after receiving the deposit from the Kingdom.
Egyptian travel agencies suspend Hajj, Umrah trips
In further escalation of Riyadh-Cairo ties, Egyptian travel agencies stopped organizing Hajj and Umrah trips following a Saudi decision to increase visa fees. Egyptian travel agencies have objected to Saudi Arabia’s decision of raising the visa fee to 2,000 riyals ($533) for any pilgrim travelling to the kingdom to perform the Hajj and Umrah religious rites for the second time.
A few days ago also, an Egyptian court has suspended a ruling freezing a controversial deal to hand over the control of two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. According to judicial sources, the Court of Urgent Matters issued an injunction against the freeze filed at the behest of Ashraf Farahat, a lawyer.
In June, an Egyptian court voided the maritime border deal signed during a visit to Cairo by Saudi Arabia's King Salman in April. The Cairo government said at the time that it would appeal the administrative court's decision. The agreement concedes Egypt's control of the strategic Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia. It has sparked angry protests in Cairo and other cities.
Egypt aspires to reestablish clout in Arab world
Egypt seems to have mastered regional political chess game where it pressurizes the Saudi regime and obtains billions of dollars from Riyadh while maintaining an independent policy in the region. By its recent moves, Egypt has once again reasserted its role in the region while the passive Saudi regime is forced to use billions of dollars to obtain support from regional players.
the arrogant Saudi regime believes that financial support means that Cairo does not have an independent foreign policy. But despite the fact that Egypt is in a difficult financial situation it is resolute over protecting its sovereign policy. No doubt Egypt aspires to reestablish its traditional role as the leader in the Arab world and will not allow Saudis to usurp this position.
In an unusually combative editorial, the editor-in-chief of state-owned Al Ahram newspaper said it was time end foreign aid that sees Egypt addressed in the "language of subjugation".
"It is better for us to face the situation and announce the review of everything that could present a burden on decision-makers," he wrote.
