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Are Egypt's lackluster efforts leaving it isolated?

Egypt seems to be ignoring chances to upgrade its social standing in the world.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi addresses the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.S. September 20, 2016.   REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz - RTSOOE8

With Egypt at odds with many countries, it’s hard to understand why it would shun opportunities to improve relations. Yet that has been its approach — or rather, lack of one — with Turkey, Italy and Britain.

Egypt was offered two golden opportunities to make diplomatic headway during the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, held last week in New York, and the G-20 summit, held Sept. 3-5 in China’s Hangzhou province. China chose Egypt as a guest of honor at the summit amid a group of 20 countries controlling two-thirds of the world's trade and 90% of the global output of crude oil. This seemed to reflect a positive development in Egyptian-Chinese relations.

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