Egypt to ramp up ties with Belarus as Russia opens Red Sea consulate
Russia plans to open a new consulate in coastal Sharm el-Sheikh, following Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to Moscow and signs of growing ties between Egypt and Belarus.
Belarus wants to deepen economic and political ties with Egypt, its parliament speaker said on Thursday, as Russia simultaneously seeks a greater footprint in the North African country.
Moscow and Minsk — long bound by a formal union and close strategic coordination — appear to be moving in tandem. Earlier this week, Russia announced plans to open a new consulate in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Speaker of the Belarusian House of Representatives Igor Sergeyenko arrived in Egypt on Monday for an official visit. In a Thursday interview with the state-owned news outlet Al-Ahram, Sergeyenko said his trip is “vivid proof of the strong friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation” between Egypt and Belarus.
One purpose of the visit is to expand economic and trade ties, Sergeyenko said. He endorsed greater political cooperation between the two countries, saying their participation in BRICS demonstrates “constructive interaction.”
