Point-blank: Egypt and Syria

Mohamed Salmawy
Tuesday 21 Jan 2025

My friend, the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty explained to me at length Egypt’s stance on the recent developments in Syria.

 

Given the new regime’s record of extremism and terrorism, I find the new situation there quite worrying, despite the new leadership’s recent attempts to modify its rhetoric.

What I gather from my conversation with Abdelatty is that Egypt has no intention to boycott or oppose the new order in Damascus, contrary to the more antagonistic stances of Russia and Iran. However, I simultaneously sense that Egypt is not keen to join the flock rushing to shake hands with those in power there, as though just yesterday they had not designated those same leader terrorists and posted billions of dollars of bounties on their heads. It is telling that, while some of those countries’ media celebrate the now moderate and minority-friendly Ahmed Al-Sharaa, aka Mohamed Al-Jolani, he refused to touch the outstretched hand of a woman who was among that train of visitors.

That said, the foreign minister’s remarks reflected genuine concern over what is happening in Syria. We were one people in the past, he said, referring to the period of Egyptian-Syrian unification. He told me he had phoned his current Syrian counterpart to convey this sentiment, which is reflected in how millions of Syrian refugees feel at home in Egypt, as though they were fellow citizens. Therefore, Egypt will not turn its back on Syria, even if it had not been in the welcome parade of Western powers and some Arab powers hostile to the Al-Assad regime.

I am fully aware of the intense pressures Western powers exerted on Egypt to take part in that farcical parade, even as Israeli forces swept into the international demilitarised zone in Syria and occupied Syrian territory beyond that. This occurred under the noses of the new Syrian regime and its illustrious guests. In response, the new leadership announced that it would not become a platform for attacking Israel, the occupying power.

I am also aware of the intense pressures on Egypt to take an overt and even hostile stance against the extremism that is spreading again in Syria. However, Egypt will abide only by the dictates of its independent will. Forthcoming developments will determine its position, regardless of the pressures brought to bear from whatever source. The kinship bonds between the Egyptian and Syrian people will remain a predominant consideration.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 23 January, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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