Egyptian President Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi ordered the production of up to 40,000 rockets for Russia and to keep this deal with Moscow secret to avoid problems with the West. This was reported by The Washington Post with reference to leaked US intelligence documents.
The top secret document, dated February 17, 2023, summarizes conversations between Sisi and senior Egyptian military officials. It refers to plans to supply Russia with shells and gunpowder from Egypt.
The leaked document quoted Egyptian official Salah al-Din as saying that Russian officials had told him they were ready to "buy anything." Salah al-Din is the Minister of Arms Production of Egypt.
Egypt is one of the oldest US allies in the Middle East, and since 1987 the country has had the status of a "major non-NATO ally" for Washington.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt denies such negotiations with Moscow. An American official told the newspaper that the White House was not aware of such a supply of weapons.
Egypt depends both on Russian grain supplies and on financial aid from the United States, which has provided Cairo with more than $1 billion annually to support the country's security.