Washington is increasing pressure on Cairo to join the
Abrahamic Regional Alliance, linking continued economic and diplomatic support
to Egypt’s willingness to cooperate with Israel. Recent reports highlight
Egypt’s strained stance, economic troubles, and hesitation as the US pushes
regional partners to cement Israel’s place in the bloc, while prominent
Egyptian officials and regional observers voice concerns about the motivations
and consequences behind such moves.
US Linking Economic Support to Egypt’s Stance on the Abrahamic Alliance
As reported by The New Arab, citing diplomatic
sources speaking to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, US officials have sent explicit
messages to Cairo tying ongoing economic support, including aid and
international finance, to Egypt’s readiness to work more closely with Israel in
an emerging regional alliance widely dubbed the “Abrahamic Alliance.” This
alliance, initially formalised through the Abraham Accords signed in 2020,
seeks to enhance economic, security, and diplomatic ties between Israel and its
Arab neighbours, with strong US backing.
Sources quoted by The New Arab note that
Washington’s latest position places considerable strain on Egyptian officials,
especially given the nation’s already fragile economy, marked by severe
inflation, currency shortages, and diminishing investments from Gulf nations.
Abrahamic Alliance
The Abrahamic Alliance, also referred to as the Abraham
Accords Regional Alliance, is an informal but growing bloc involving Israel and
Arab states, orchestrated under US mediation since 2020. As outlined by Wikipedia,
the Accords began with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalising ties
with Israel, soon followed by agreements with Morocco and Sudan. These deals
have since expanded to include new forums and summits, such as the Negev Forum,
bringing together diplomatic and security officials from various regional
states.
Diplomatic and Security Objectives
The overarching goals of the alliance, as explained by the
US Department of State, are to foster peace, economic cooperation, security
coordination, and cultural exchange under the shared banner of the Abrahamic
faiths. However, the push to deepen the alliance has prompted mixed
reactions among both governments and publics across the Arab world.
The Economic Leverage
According to The New Arab, the US is leveraging
Egypt’s dire economic needs to advance its regional agenda. Cairo is currently
dependent on loans from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund
(IMF), but, as revealed by diplomatic sources in Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, those financial
conditions now come with added requirements: improving Egypt’s business
environment and ensuring a “stable regional climate”—widely interpreted as
aligning more closely with US goals for the Abrahamic Alliance.
Military and Security Implications
As cited by researcher Tariq Dana for PRISME,
the United States has shifted its Middle East strategy towards “offshore
balancing,” seeking to reduce its direct military footprint by empowering
regional allies to “oversee matters of security and defence,” with Israel’s
further integration as a linchpin of this approach. Major arms deals and
security cooperation have been used as incentives for Arab governments to
deepen relations with Israel.
Cautious Approach and Official Statements
Despite significant US pressure, Egypt has neither
officially joined the Abrahamic Alliance nor committed to all its diplomatic or
military activities. Still, as The New Arab reports, Egyptian
officials have attended regional security events with Israeli participation,
most notably the Negev Forum and the Sharm el-Sheikh Security Summit. Egypt has
notably declined involvement in certain military actions, including operations
targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels and actions against Iran.
During events commemorating Egypt’s June 30, 2013
revolution, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi delivered a pointed message, as
reported by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed:
“Egypt believes that peace is not born through bombing, imposed by force, or achieved through normalisation rejected by peoples,”
“Peace can only be achieved through justice, fairness, and understanding.”
Statements from Egyptian Diplomats
Former Egyptian Ambassador Masoum Marzouk told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, as cited by The New Arab, that Egypt joining the Abrahamic Alliance would be
“meaningless, as it has had official ties with Israel for decades.”
Marzouk cautioned that the Gulf states’ rush to embrace the alliance
“does not serve regional peace or security, but rewards Tel Aviv and encourages its aggression and expansionist policies.”
Similarly, former Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador
Mohamed Hegazy argued that Washington’s campaign “is seeking to increase
Israel’s power” by allowing it to expand its regional influence under the cover
of security and economic cooperation—yet, Hegazy notes, this strategy fails to
resolve the core dispute: “a just settlement for the Palestinians.”
What Are the Abraham Accords and Who Are Its Current Members?
The Abraham Accords were first formalised in September 2020
in Washington D.C., brokered by the Trump administration, and saw Israel
normalise relations with the UAE and Bahrain, with Sudan and Morocco quickly
following. While the Biden administration and, more recently, a second Trump
administration have continued to champion and expand the initiative, results
have been mixed, especially amidst ongoing regional conflict and public
resistance.
As Steve Witkoff, US Middle East Envoy, told CNBC in comments reported by The New Arab, expanding the Abraham Accords
“remains one of US President Donald Trump’s key objectives,”
with the aim of achieving
“normalisation across an array of countries that maybe people would have never contemplated would come in.”
Witkoff’s remarks coincided with a Tel
Aviv billboard campaign depicting Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, and regional Arab leaders, including Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Has Egypt Already Engaged in ‘Abrahamic’ Dialogue?
As detailed by the Abrahamic Forum foundation,
Egypt has hosted interfaith events called Abrahamic Teams since 2016, involving
Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Baha’is. These initiatives, supported by
international NGOs, focus on dialogue and cultural understanding rather than
formal political or security alliances.
Reaction from Palestinian and Egyptian Officials
Multiple sources highlight deep scepticism—especially
regarding the neglect of Palestinian rights within the alliance's framework. This
is a key point of contention not only for Palestinian authorities but also for
several Egyptian officials and the Egyptian public, whose opposition to formal
“normalisation” with Israel remains significant.
Concerns over Regional Security and National Sovereignty
As covered by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Egypt’s leadership has
grown increasingly wary of Israeli military actions in Gaza and any moves that
might threaten national security, such as pushbacks or the resettlement of
Palestinians. President Sisi has reportedly regarded such moves as “red lines,”
threatening even to review the peace treaty with Israel should those be crossed.
Broader Regional Dynamics
The Abraham Accords have largely survived the upheavals of
ongoing wars and domestic unrest, but, as analysts at the Carnegie Endowment
highlight, their future depends on shifting political and security dynamics
across the region. While some governments may see the alliance as a path to
modernisation and greater US favour, widespread public distrust and fraught
security landscapes persist.
Political scientist Tariq Dana observes that the US, facing
competition from China and Russia, views regional alliances like the Abraham
Accords as a way to maintain strategic clout without new military
entanglements, but the alliance's expansion remains contentious and its impact
uncertain.
What Comes Next for Egypt?
Egypt finds itself at a crossroads: battered by economic
crisis and facing increased pressure to join a bloc deeply entangled with the
Israeli state. While US leverage is real, significant internal and external
considerations—including public opinion, the unresolved Palestinian issue, and
security risks—continue to shape Cairo’s measured approach.
As summarised by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Egypt “has had official
ties with Israel for decades,” and its eventual decision on alliance membership
will have far-reaching consequences not just for its own security and
economics, but also for the wider region’s future.