TEHRAN, Iran — Riyadh is engulfing Cairo — this was the perception when King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud visited Egypt for five days early last month. During the visit, many treaties and agreements were signed, including the transfer of Egypt’s sovereignty over the two islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia. Thousands of Egyptians took to the streets to protest the island transfer. More broadly, many questions were raised about the timing and the meaning of the visit.
Saudi policy toward Iran is currently making up the core of its foreign policy. As such, Riyadh’s regional diplomacy and maneuvering should be seen in that context, which is supposed to widen and enhance its regional strategic choices. Egypt is, meanwhile, more focused on combating terrorism and instability in the Sinai Peninsula and Libya, while enhancing its economy.
