Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for his first visit to Egypt in a decade, amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran that have unsettled the Middle East region. The visit, marked by a formal military welcome and public displays of support, underscores China’s growing influence in a country traditionally aligned with the United States on security matters.

During talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the two leaders discussed deepening bilateral ties across economic, technological, and military sectors. Both sides signed agreements covering cooperation in artificial intelligence, trade, transport, and manufacturing. According to Chinese customs data, trade between the two countries surpassed $20 billion last year. Egypt estimates Chinese investments at around $10 billion, with Chinese firms involved in major infrastructure projects such as the New Administrative Capital and key urban transit developments. Beijing also holds significant stakes in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, a strategic maritime asset vital to global trade.

Xi emphasized the importance of Middle Eastern countries shaping their own futures and security arrangements, calling for opposition to external interference. He urged "major powers outside the region" to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional states while rejecting double standards in antiterrorism efforts. Xi also reaffirmed China’s commitment to safeguarding international shipping lanes amid concerns raised by the US-Iran conflict.

Egypt receives approximately $1.3 billion in annual military aid from the United States and is a longstanding U.S. security partner. However, over the past decade, Cairo has increasingly diversified its partnerships, expanding cooperation with China not only economically but also militarily. Last month, the two countries conducted joint military exercises featuring Chinese J-16 fighter jets alongside Egypt’s French-made Rafale jets, signaling deeper military collaboration. Nevertheless, analysts note that neither side appears to be positioning China as a primary security provider for Egypt, but rather as an important supplementary partner.

Observers suggest that Egypt’s outreach to China reflects a broader regional trend among U.S. allies seeking to balance their international relationships amid doubts over Washington’s long-term commitment to the Middle East. Egypt’s role as the region’s most populous country, with relative neutrality in the ongoing Iran conflict, provides Beijing an opportunity to strengthen ties and influence Arab public opinion.

In a recent op-ed, President el-Sisi highlighted Egypt’s independent foreign policy and the country’s commitment to “strengthening the role of the global south,” framing Cairo’s cooperation with China as part of a strategic effort to assert autonomy amid a polarized international environment. His visit coincided with rising regional concerns about the implications of the U.S.-Iran war for energy markets and security.

Xi’s visit to Egypt precedes a planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, reflecting China’s intent to showcase its growing foothold within a region long dominated by American influence. Earlier in the week, Xi participated in a security summit in Kyrgyzstan with leaders from Russia and Iran, signaling China’s active engagement in geopolitical developments affecting the Middle East.