Egypt's foreign policy in 2021 sought to settle regional and international conflicts and offer realistic solutions to various regional and international crises, writes Ahmad Abdel-Rahman.
Egypt's president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has made a major shift in the country's foreign policy. Decisions are made that suit Egypt's long-term goals rather than responding to the needs and demands of foreign powers. Egypt is intent on making decisions that primarily focus on settling disputes and regional conflict and finding a safe way to exit many crises in the region. Cairo has a vision for the Middle East which calls for peace and regional and international stability and security and it wants to find the right solutions to make this happen.
Egypt has focused much more on this policy over the past year, continuing what it had started in 2014. Although it does not offer solutions to every crisis or problem, it works with all concerned parties to find common ground.
The best evidence of this policy is what Egypt has done and is still doing with regard to Libya and Palestine, both of which are at the heart of Egyptian national security. On the Libyan issue, Cairo has raised the sceptre of peace, security and stability for all Libyans. It has moved towards achieving this by receiving and meeting all Libyan parties concerned with this issue. It has also restored a diplomatic presence in Libya through the establishment of the Egyptian consulate in Benghazi, and the return of the work of the diplomatic mission in Tripoli.
El-Sisi also participates in various forums where he emphasises the principles of maintaining the security and stability of Libya. He argues that all foreign forces and mercenaries should leave Libya. The most prominent occasion where he emphasised this was at the Paris Conference on Libya held in November 2021. He has also helped Libyans, when they held its presidential and parliamentary elections, to form a democratically elected government.
The Paris Conference confirmed the Egyptian vision for Libya's security and politics. It requires international forces to push for democratically accountable presidential and parliamentary elections, and the exit of all foreign forces, mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libyan lands, El-Sisi said at the conference, "It is important to define a clear and binding timeframe for the implementation of the exit of all foreign forces and mercenaries who entered Libya after 2011," he said. He also emphasised the importance of unifying Libyan institutions, while carrying out economic reforms.
Egypt's stance towards the situation in Libya has had a significant impact on other countries dealing with this crisis. Moreover, it has played a major role in bringing about a geopolitical transformation within Libya, initiating a dialogue between various groups, which had been missing for many years. Egypt has also helped to achieve its goal of achieving security and stability within a divided Libya.
At for the Palestinian issue, Egypt continues to move with a clear and comprehensive vision. It succeeded in achieving a ceasefire between the Palestinians and Israelis while the world was preoccupied with the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Hours before the ceasefire was announced, El-Sisi said Egypt would grant USD 500 million to Palestine for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
At the same time, Egypt continued to try to move the Palestinian and Israeli sides to achieving a resolution to the conflict and prevent a stalement between the two sides . It also wanted to find the best way to continue to support the Palestinians and provide development support to the rest of the Palestinian territories. Cairo continued its supportive stance for Palestine at various regional and international forums.
During these meetings, President El-Sisi reinforced the Egyptian position. For example, during his meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister last September, El-Sisi stressed its support to achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East. This would be based not only on a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine but on international legitimacy resolutions as well. A resolution to the conflict would contribute to enhancing security and prosperity for all peoples in the region.
El-Sisi continued to emphasise the Palestinian issue when he received both King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and president Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority.
The Egyptian position on the Libyan issue and the Palestinian issue are the best proof of the success of its foreign policy under the leadership of El-Sisi. It has also extended to other crises too such as Yemen, Sudan and Syria.