China's President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday, his first visit to the Arab world's most populous nation in a decade, as countries across the Middle East reassess security and economic ties amid the fallout of the Iran war.
The conflict has disrupted global energy markets and raised questions about whether regional countries can count on the United States as a long-term security partner.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Xi at Cairo International Airport, where they walked a long red carpet flanked by uniformed soldiers, folk dancers, and young Egyptians waving Chinese flags.
This high-profile visit by the Chinese leader unfolds at a critical time for Egypt, which is officially ranked as Africa's strongest military power.
According to Reuters, Cairo continues to receive approximately $1.3 billion annually in U.S. military aid, it is rapidly expanding its defense and economic ties with Beijing while keeping other global powers, including Russia, close.
