Xi visits Egypt as China seeks deeper influence across the Mideast
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Egypt to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties, signaling China's growing influence in the Middle East. The visit highlights a strategic effort to position China as a regional stabilizer in contrast to U.S. foreign policy.
Why it matters
This visit underscores the shifting geopolitical landscape as China actively expands its soft power and diplomatic footprint in a region traditionally dominated by U.S. influence.
CAIRO — On the surface, Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt this week is a run-of-the-mill opportunity for two countries to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties.
U.S. vs. China: Inside a great power rivalry But there is deep subtext to the meeting between Xi and President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi: China, the United States' top global rival, is cultivating an extensive relationship with one of America's key allies in the Middle East as it moves to expand its influence in the rapidly changing region.
Xi aims to present China as a stabilizer in the region and contrast it with the United States, which for decades has been militarily entangled there — its six-month war with Iran being just the latest example.
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