US-Egypt fund makes case for economic statecraft in hard power era
As Washington focuses on war and deterrence, the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund argues private-sector investment can advance US strategic interests.
As the Middle East continues grappling with fallout from the US-Israel-Iran war in 2026, Egypt is once again confronting a familiar challenge: how to withstand external shocks pressuring its vulnerable economy.
The latest turmoil has driven up energy costs, unsettled investors and placed fresh pressure on regional finances. Yet compared with recent episodes of turbulence, a long-term investor in Egypt has seen the Arab world’s most populous nation weather this storm from a stronger position.
"Egypt entered this crisis with stronger external buffers," said Cornelius Queen, senior vice president of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund (EAEF), a privately managed US government-backed investment fund launched in 2011 to support private-sector development in Egypt.
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Queen pointed to the lasting impact of recent structural reforms, including the liberalization of the Egyptian pound in 2024, which helped Cairo unlock external support and stabilize the economy.
