China’s influence in Egypt has expanded beyond the economic sphere and has become a serious threat to Egypt’s security interests and its relations with the United States.
Recent surveys show that most Egyptians consider relations with China more important than those with America, with China being recognized as Egypt’s largest friend among non-Arab countries.
The relationship between Beijing and Cairo has deep roots dating back to 1956.
Since the launch of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, cooperation betw
een the two countries has become more significant.
Chinese investment in Egypt increased by approximately 317 percent from 2017 to 2022, while US investment decreased by 31 percent. China has become Egypt’s largest trading partner for eight consecutive years.
China has also expanded its influence in cultural, educational, and political arenas.
The establishment of the Confucius Institute, organizing more than 1,100 training programs for Egyptian officials, and building relationships with Egyptian political parties are among China’s soft power tools.
This growing influence could threaten US interests, especially in areas such as 5G technology and cybersecurity where Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE have a strong presence in Egypt.
