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Egypt's Turn to Russia

(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Jacques Neriah - Russia is considering selling some major weapon systems to Egypt. A representative of Russia's state arms exporter spoke about supplying helicopter gunships, air defense systems, Kornet anti-tank missiles, and about refurbishing and modernizing previously purchased military equipment delivered by the then-Soviet Union to Egypt. (Other leaked information mentioned selling Mig-29M/M2 fighter jets and even submarines.) This arms deal would be possibly funded by Saudi Arabia or through a loan provided by Russia. In fact, military and technical cooperation between Moscow and Cairo, which was stopped at Egypt's initiative in the 1970s after Sadat decided to reorient procurement towards the U.S., was resumed back in the 2000s. Between 2005 and 2012, military trade between Russia and Egypt amounted to $1.852 billion, already making Russia Egypt's second largest weapons supplier. Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah was foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and deputy head for assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence.
2013-11-22 00:00:00
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