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Egypt

October 14, 2026

Cairo 5:56 am

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China's President Xi Jinping (center L) walks along with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi followed by their wives Peng Liyuan and Entissar Amer (R) upon their arrival at the Cairo International Airport on September 1, 2026. President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on September 1, making a rare trip to the Middle East as both countries face the threat of US sanctions over financial links to Iran. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Why renewed Egypt-Ethiopia tensions are a problem for China

For Beijing, the renewed Egypt-Ethiopia standoff is a zero-sum bind that threatens vital strategic interests on both sides of the Nile.

Joyce Karam

A quadrilateral summit was held on Oct. 4, 2026, attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi, Eritrea President Isaias Afwerki, President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan Gen. Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan, in New El Alamein City, Egypt.

Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan hold summit amid Ethiopia tensions

All four countries have increasingly tense relations with Ethiopia, driven by disputes over the Nile, Red Sea access and security.

This general view shows the site of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Guba, Ethiopia, on February 19, 2022. - Ethiopia's massive hydro-electric dam project on a tributary of the Nile has raised regional tensions notably with Egypt, which depends on the huge river for 97 percent of its water supply. Government officials said the dam would begin producing electricity on Sunday, more than a decade since work first started. (Photo by Amanuel SILESHI / AFP) (Photo by AMANUEL SILESHI/AFP via Getty Ima

Explainer

Why are Egypt and Ethiopia clashing over Tigray, Somalia and the Nile?

Egypt expelled an official at the Ethiopian Embassy in Cairo on Thursday following a similar move by Ethiopia that same day, in the latest sign of tensions between the neighboring African countries.

Ronen Bar, former chief of Israel's domestic Shin Bet security agency

Ex-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to sue Netanyahu over Oct. 7 accusations: What to know

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar of withholding information in the hours before the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, but the former security chief rejected the claim, saying he intends to file a defamation suit.

Latest News

On secret UAE visit, Netanyahu asked MBZ to deny pre-Oct. 7 warnings

Israeli PM

20 Israelis stranded in Ethiopia seek evacuation as fighting resumes: What to know

A general view of the damaged building housing Tigray TV, the state broadcaster of the Tigray region, following a drone strike in Mekelle, Ethiopia, Sept. 27, 2026.

Egypt hosts Greece, Cyprus defense ministers: What to know

Cypriot Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas, Egyptian Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Ashraf Salem Zaher, and Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias meet in Cairo, Sept. 22, 2026.

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In London, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

Mohammed Magdy

In Berlin, reporting on Egyptian politics

Ayah Aman

In Cairo, reporting on politics and culture

Salwa Samir

In Giza, reporting on politics

Nada Shaker

In Cairo, reporting on culture

S Korea nuclear

Russia, South Korea cooperate on Egypt’s Dabaa nuclear plant

South Korea has won a $2.25 billion deal to construct turbine buildings for Egypt’s first nuclear power plant in Dabaa, which Russia is currently constructing.

Hydrogen tank.

Saudi firm Alfanar to build green hydrogen plant in Egypt

Saudi Arabia is helping Egypt boost its renewable energy capabilities.

Yuan banknotes and US dollars are seen on a table in Yichang, Hubei province, China, Aug. 14, 2015.

Egypt to issue bonds in China’s currency yuan

The US dollar may be losing its dominance in the Middle East to the yuan.

Egypt wheat

Egypt looks further afield for wheat

Egypt recently bought 240,000 tons of wheat from Russia directly, as the government continues to work on plans to avert a food crisis and preserve local supplies.

Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities restorers and archaeologists restore the statue of King Thutmose II.

Culture

Egypt restores massive statue of King Thutmose II

Within the scope of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities’ efforts to restore monuments and paintings at the Karnak Temple complex in Luxor, the Supreme Council of Antiquities completed the restoration work of the statue of King Thutmose II on the southern facade of Karnak.

An aerial view of Warraq Island on the Nile River on the northern outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, May 14, 2021.

Cairo evicts Nile island residents for development project

Egyptian security forces and residents of the Nile River's Warraq Island are clashing as the government tries to evict them as part of a development plan.

Egypt summit

Egypt hosts five-state Arab summit

The recent summit hosted by Egypt between the leaders of five Arab countries may serve as a prelude to more joint action on security and economic development.

Nile River, Cairo

Egypt rethinks water strategy, starting with new irrigation minister

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has appointed a new irrigation minister with wide experience in water resources in the context of the Nile crisis.

Egypt investment

Egypt attracting more investment from Arab states

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have invested heavily in Egypt recently, and Qatar may soon follow.

The EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson (L) looks on.

Israel to invest more in Egyptian renewable energy projects

Israel plans to invest more in the field of power generation with renewable energy in Egypt, after two Israeli companies announced a major plan to carry out several projects to this effect.

Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. via Getty Images

South Korea to work with Russia on Egypt’s first nuclear power plant

The move further cements Egypt and South Korea’s strong economic and defense ties.

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt builds virtual hospital to reach remote Sinai patients

Cairo is building a virtual hospital connected to mobile clinics to serve the Bedouin communities in South Sinai.