"Egypt will play an important role in keeping the global community on the right track," commented European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on her visit to Cairo last month, where she had an important meeting with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, highlighting Egypt's significant status. Egypt, Israel, and the European Union signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding in Cairo on Wednesday for the export of gas to Europe, aiming to find alternatives to Russian fuel amid the war in Ukraine. There are indications that Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will attend a European Union summit in Brussels to discuss shared topics and issues. It is rumored that French President Emmanuel Macron, after being re-elected, will conduct a tour of the region with Cairo as a key stop, and Lebanon will be on the agenda.
What role will Egypt play internationally and regionally? Retired Brigadier General Amin Hattit tells "Al-Markaziyah": "Everyone knows the extent of Egypt's regional significance and strategic location, in addition to its previous capabilities. The issue of oil has placed it among gas-producing and exporting countries, which has now become a primary economic commodity. This new factor gives Egypt an additional role and importance on the global stage. Now, following the economic war launched by Europe against Russia, which has caused a disruption in Russian gas supplies, Egypt becomes an essential European need, as it possesses gas that can compensate for this shortfall. For this reason, we see Egypt actively engaging on the international stage, armed with these new strategic capabilities granted by its possession of gas."
Regarding other files, he responds: "Egypt's core strategic assets are the Suez Canal as a mandatory waterway in the Middle East and gas. Other commodities, such as wheat and others, may play a supportive or marginal role at most."
As for Egypt's regional and Lebanese role, Hattit states: "In the past six months, Egypt has begun to move regionally to regain its role. We are aware that over the past ten years, its role diminished entirely in the Arab world, with leadership shifting from Egypt and Syria to the Gulf. However, Egypt is now trying to regain its role due to international and regional changes and the capabilities it could utilize. Therefore, its inquiry into the Lebanese file is possible, as it is one of the hot Arab issues. Thus, if Egypt decides to reclaim its Arab position, it cannot neglect the Lebanese file. France, as we all know, is very interested in the Lebanese file and is leading the Western community's interest in this issue. Hence, the intersection of French and Egyptian interests points to a strong possibility that Macron will discuss the Lebanese file with Egypt."
Regarding the meeting of Arab ministers in Beirut, Hattit emphasizes that "this meeting, in form, has not met Lebanon's ambition to be inclusive of all Arab foreign ministers, especially since more than a third, if not half, of them will be absent. However, regardless of the size and role of those representing their countries, Lebanon is progressing in its economic crisis, provided that it can play a unifying Arab and regional role, which is in Lebanon's interest even if the moral and formal benefits remain in this framework and do not evolve into financial benefits to restore its economic capabilities."
