Can Egypt defeat Israel’s air superiority with Chinese planes and defences?

What are the secrets of the Chinese president’s historic visit to Cairo that concern both Netanyahu and Trump?

At a time when the region was preoccupied with the developments of the American-Israeli war against Iran, and following President Donald Trump’s delirious statements, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to Egypt, resulting in the signing of five strategic agreements. These agreements included arrangements for cutting-edge Chinese aircraft, missile defence systems, and the real localisation of sophisticated Chinese military and technological industries in Egypt. In addition, China proposed establishing a new Middle Eastern security framework that strengthens the two nations’ comprehensive strategic relationship and coordination.

True, military strategic cooperation between the two countries took precedence during the Chinese president’s historic visit and his large accompanying delegation. Still, economic cooperation also played an important role, resulting in the signing of 20 cooperation documents in technology, the digital economy, transportation, cars, electric trains, culture, and media. The volume of trade exchange between the two countries is expanding at a rate of at least 20% per year, reaching $20 billion by 2025, up from $17 billion the previous year.

In short, the Chinese president’s visit to Egypt (which began last Tuesday, September 1, and lasted three days) demonstrated Cairo’s desire to terminate Israel’s air force superiority, whether with fixed-wing aircraft or drones. Egypt has received the Chinese long-range defence system (HQ-9B), which has a 300-kilometre range and offers enormous, precise intercept capabilities against ballistic missiles and fighter jets. According to rumours in secret intelligence circles, Egypt is on the verge of acquiring the Chinese drone (Wing Loong 2) and purchasing six YY-20B aerial refuelling aircraft, indicating its intention to strike the Renaissance Dam if its share of Nile water decreases and threatens Egyptian water security.

Perhaps the most alarming issue for Israel, threatening its air superiority, is preliminary Chinese consent for Egypt to purchase the Chinese fighter jet (J-16), which was tested in Egyptian-Chinese manoeuvres alongside the French Rafale, the Egyptian Air Force’s crown jewel. Egypt had previously purchased ten Chinese fighter jets from the “J-10” series to replace the American “F-16”.

Egypt has begun to emerge from under the American military cover and is moving toward Chinese armament, which has no constraints on jets and their purposes. This development is especially relevant given that Chinese fighter jets stunned the world with their high capabilities during the recent India-Pakistan war, outperforming American planes in the Indian army’s hands, particularly the “F-16”, “F-15”, and other variants.

Egypt, which has rejected American hegemony over its defence capabilities, is more than just a large economic or military market; it is also a critical state located at the crossroads of continents, a major corridor for global trade via the Suez Canal, and a vital gateway to Africa and the Arab world.

The historic visit of the Chinese president to Egypt and the results that emerged, particularly in the military and economic fields, may literally parallel the decisive shift of late President Gamal Abdel Nasser from the Western camp to the Eastern camp led by Russia, the response to Belgian weapons, and the refusal to finance the construction of the High Dam, culminating in the famous visit to Moscow. Egypt continues to hold the balance of power, and we must remember that the Suez Crisis War of 1956, which took place on Egyptian soil, signalled the beginning of the collapse of the two major Western colonial empires, Britain and France. The tilt toward the East and China may mark the beginning of the country’s return to strategic leadership in the area.

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