Journal of International Relations & Foreign Policy

Two Decades of Strategic Shifts the Future and Challenge of Egyptian-American Relations
Alaa Al-Din Arafat

Abstract
Egypt has been a cornerstone for U.S. national security interests and key a strategic ally of the United States in the Middle East since 1970s.However, throughout the last decade two decades the Egyptian American relations witnessed unprecedented deterioration. This paper is an attempt to answer four interconnected questions. First, why Egyptian-American relations has deteriorated despite of their deep-rooted strategic relations since 1970s. Second, why the United States build strategic cooperation with the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) after the downfall of Mubarak (1981-2011). Third, why Obama (2009-2017) administration rejected building strategic cooperation with Sisi despite the fact that both Morsi (2012-2013) and Sisi received power as a result of the military intervention to oust the incumbent. Fourth, what the prospect of Egyptian-American relations. This paper argues that the Egyptian-American relations needs comprehensive reconsideration and reestablishment that taken into its account the new realities and threats of the region and the mutual strategic interests of the two countries. It argues that economic cooperation and sharing the fruits of development, instead of military and aid-related cooperation is the more relative persistent strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jirfp.v5n1a4