China, Suez, and the New Order: Why Xi's Visit to Egypt Matters for Israel Too

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt, his first in a decade, marks the deepening of Beijing's influence in the Middle East and the formation of a new regional order. The analysis examines the significance of the visit in the context of multi-alignment, where Egypt strengthens ties with China without abandoning the United States, and the implications for Israel.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt, his first in a decade, is not just a routine diplomatic event. The analysis argues that it symbolizes the deepening of Beijing's influence in the Middle East and the consolidation of a new regional order. Egypt, despite its struggling economy, holds a strategic geographic position: it controls the Suez Canal and sits at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Africa, and the Middle East. China understands this well and is investing in Egypt under the Belt and Road Initiative, including involvement in ports, railways, infrastructure, and energy. Egypt has also joined BRICS and conducts joint military exercises with China. However, the analysis emphasizes that this is not about replacing the United States with China, but rather a strategy of 'multi-alignment'—maintaining parallel relations with multiple power centers to reduce dependency. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are moving in a similar direction. For Israel, the lesson is not to panic over every joint exercise or state visit, but not to ignore them either. Israel must learn to operate in a world where countries act on multiple fronts simultaneously.