Repairing a Relationship

Since the end of the Second World War one of the most crucial relationships that the United States has in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region has been the one with Egypt.

There have been strains in this relationship. One period that comes to mind has to be the Nasser Era when after being shunned by the Eisenhower Administration President Nasser sought ties with the Soviet Union. A detente occurred during the Administration of Sadat that continued after his Assassination in 1981 through his successor Hosni Mubarak.

The most recent fracture occurred during the Arab Spring. The Obama Administration after initially supporting President Mubarak when the uprisings spread to Egypt withdrew its support. However after Elections the Administration then gleefully supported his successor Mohammed Morsi. This leader of the Muslim Brotherhood took several steps in his year in office that caused issues within the Country including persecuting the Copts and Arming Hamas in the Gaza Strip before He was overthrown by General Al-Sisi.

Now that President Trump has assumed Office how should this relationship move forward? There is Legislation in the US Congress to monitor the Law in Egypt that deals with Coptic Churches. There are loopholes in this Law that can be used to deny permits to construct new Churches or renovate Old ones. USCIRF (US Commission on International Religious Freedom) monitors events in Egypt and they are the best entity to monitor how permits are being issued and other elements of this law and how they are being implemented.

Reestablishing Ties in dealing with Terrorism are crucial as well. The ongoing civil strife in Libya is just one reason why repairs need to be made. At this time the Egyptian Security Forces are in a major campaign against Islamist Elements in the Sinai Peninsula. This objective became clear with the recent firing of rockets on the Israeli City of Eliat.

The Stability in the Sinai which has been exploited in the past by Hamas to smuggle Arms into the Gaza Strip is a paramount concern. Not only to Cairo but also to the Israelis as well. How this offensive plays out in the grand scheme of things has yet to be determined.

The question of whether or not President Trump can actually bring this balanced, nuanced approached to US-Egyptian relations has yet to be addressed let alone answered. But it could reveal what the policy towards the rest of the Middle East may look like.