Egypt-U.S. ties remain stable despite current tension

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Egypt-U.S. ties remain stable despite current tension

By Mahmoud Fouly (Xinhua) 16:39, August 05, 2013

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CAIRO, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The relations between Egypt and the United States are expected to remain firm despite the ongoing tension over the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, said Egyptian analysts.

Since Morsi's ouster in early July, Washington has been reluctant whether to label what happened in Egypt a popular uprising or a coup, threatening sometimes to halt a 1.3-billion-U. S. dollar annual military aid and some other times to suspend delivery of four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt.

Egypt's Armed Forces Chief and Defense Minister General Abdel- Fattah al-Sisi has recently lashed out at Barack Obama's administration for "disregarding the Egyptian popular will" that toppled Morsi.

"The relations between Cairo and Washington remain firm because they are based on mutual interests despite the ups and downs," said Emad Awwad, a political science professor at Cairo University.

Awwad told Xinhua that neither Egypt nor the United States would risk undermining such relations although they might be " temporarily cold," describing the current tension as "a stage of reassessment for both sides."

The professor underscored the significance of U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns' current visit to Cairo as "a major link in the chain of the relations, through which Washington tries to find out the reality of the situation on the ground."

The soft tone at other times reflect both sides' keenness not to lose each other as partners and strategic allies.

After Washington's threats about withholding annual aid, the White House later on said "it would not be in the best interest for the United States."

Further, U.S. Secretary John Kerry, during his recent visit to Pakistan, made supportive comments to the Egyptian army, saying it ousted Morsi for "restoring democracy." Gen. Sisi also softened his tone, after firing sharp criticism to Obama's administration, when he urged Washington to use its " leverage and influence" with the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) to resolve the conflict.

Ayman al-Sayed Abdel-Wahhab, expert at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said that the Egyptian-U.S. relations are currently "swaying" but they would not reach a conflict.

"The United States is a big power and Egypt is an important regional ally, so none of them would take the relations to a no- return point," Abdel-Wahhab told Xinhua.

He added that the U.S. position greatly developed from rejection to acceptance of Morsi's ouster as a reality, with some reservations, noting that Western pressures are meant to secure " safe return for the MB to political scene with the least losses to the group."

Burns' ongoing visit to Egypt coincides with the presence of United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Qatari new Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, who came to Cairo a few days after departure of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

"The U.S., EU and Qatari efforts have the same purpose, namely a safe exit for the Brotherhood, but the UAE diplomatic efforts are only meant to enhance bilateral ties," Abdel-Wahhab said, arguing that the Gulf states in general, excluding Qatar, are not enthusiastic about the MB's return to the political scene."

There has been news reports about U.S. intention to replace outgoing ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson with former ambassador to Damascus Robert Ford, which did not appeal to Egyptians.

"The coming ambassador is merely a mirror of U.S. policies in Egypt. The bilateral relations are governed by major interests and issues rather than an ambassador's profile," Abdel-Wahhab explained.

For his part, Salah Fahmy, former assistant foreign minister, said that the Egyptian-American relations are undergoing "a very difficult stage" and a state of "unbalance and confusion."

"The United States is not willing to lose Egypt as a friend and a regional strategic ally, yet it is still unable to crystallize a decisive position and determine the winning party in the Egyptian conflict that would maintain its interests," the ex-diplomat told Xinhua.

"Like all bilateral relations, those between Cairo and Washington are governed by interests," Fahmy said, noting that Israel's security is an important factor in the relations.

He believes that the two basic parties in the political equation in Egypt, the army and the Brotherhood, are also keen on keeping the door open with Washington regardless of their criticism of U.S. administration.

"Despite any political disagreements, both Egypt and the United States are keen on maintaining strategic relations and avoiding tension," the former diplomat told Xinhua.