Xi visits Egypt as China seeks deeper influence across the Mideast

Key Points:

• Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt highlights China's growing influence in the Middle East, positioning itself as a stabilizer in contrast to the U.S.'s military involvement in the region.
• The visit marks a decade since Xi's last trip to Egypt and underscores deepening ties, including China's $10 billion investment in Egyptian infrastructure and Egypt's recent inclusion in the BRICS bloc, signaling a strategic diversification away from Western alliances.
• China has played a key role in regional diplomacy, notably brokering a 2023 deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and continues to advocate for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, aiming to expand its soft power in the Middle East.
• The Suez Canal's strategic importance as an alternative energy route amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz reinforces Egypt's significance to China’s regional ambitions, further cemented by recent joint military exercises between the two countries.
• Xi's visit follows the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and occurs amid U.S. sanctions targeting Iran, with China maintaining that its trade with Iran complies with international law despite buying the majority of Iranian oil shipments.