According to classified US papers, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi planned to make 40,000 missiles for Russia in February and urged officials to keep missile production and shipping secret “to avoid problems with the West.”
This is indicated in The Washington Post’s article.
40,000 missiles for secret transfer to Russia
According to a leaked US intelligence document, Egypt’s President recently ordered his subordinates to develop up to 40,000 missiles for secret transfer to Russia. Egypt is one of the closest US friends in the Middle East and the largest beneficiary of US aid.
A section of the classified paper, allegedly dated February 17, outlines claimed meetings between Sisi and high-ranking Egyptian military officers and mentions plans to send artillery shells and gunpowder to Russia. Sisi directs authorities in the paper to keep missile manufacture and delivery secret “to avoid problems with the West.”
WP obtained the document from an array of pictures of secret data shared on Discord in February and March. The document had yet to be reported on.
According to a US government official who talked to the journal under the condition of anonymity, “We are not aware of any implementation of this plan.” “This (supplying missiles from Egypt to Russia – ed.) has never happened before,” he continued.
Weapons supply to Moscow would be a high risk for Egypt
According to WP, “providing weapons to Russia for the war in Ukraine would be a potentially explosive gambit for Egypt, which, despite deepening ties with Moscow, remains interested in partnering with the US, which has provided the country with more than $1 billion in security assistance for decades.”
According to WP, the letter states that on February 1, Sisi directed that the missile delivery be kept secret to “avoid problems with the West” and that factory workers be informed that the missiles were intended for the Egyptian army.
The journal speculates that Salah al-Din is most likely Mohamed Salah al-Din, the state minister for military manufacturing.
According to the publication, the gunpowder proposed by Russia, which is specified in the document, would originate from “Factory 18,” the name of a chemical company that has been in operation for several decades.
According to WP, Salah al-Din stated in the document that he “will order his people to work in shifts if necessary because it is the least Egypt can do to repay Russia for the assistance it has provided in the past.” Furthermore, Salah al-Din is quoted in the document as adding that the Russians told him they were willing to “buy anything.” According to the magazine, the record does not specify what the earlier Russian help was.
Egypt considers shells supply to China
According to the document, the Egyptian president is considering selling “conventional goods” to China to make room for “more Sakr 45 production.” This refers to Egyptian-made 122-mm shells.
Although it has yet to be indicated whether the missiles to be developed for Russia are Sakr 45, the newspaper underlines that such missiles would be compatible with Russian Grad multiple-launch rocket systems.
“While the document does not specify how the US government obtained the details of the discussions, some of the information contained in the newly released documents appears to have come from radar intelligence, which employs technical means to intercept communications.” “The United States government has long had extensive capabilities to eavesdrop on and intercept foreign leaders’ communications,” WP writes.
The conversation with Sisi on February 1 occurred just a few days after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with the Egyptian president during a visit to Cairo. Following Blinken’s visit, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry went to Moscow to meet with Russian leaders.
If this deal is confirmed, this information will spoil Egypt’s relations with the US and the EU, and if any weapons shipments by Egypt are verified and confirmed, the country might face economic sanctions.
