Egypt and Russia Seek to Expand Nuclear Cooperation and Economic Ties
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the third Russia-Africa Summit to discuss expanding nuclear cooperation on the El-Dabaa project, bilateral trade milestones exceeding $10 billion, and pressing regional security concerns in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, dailynewsegypt.com reported.
Nuclear Expansion and Construction Timelines at El-Dabaa
During the Kremlin talks, Al-Sisi told Putin that Egypt hopes to broaden its nuclear energy partnership with Moscow. This vision includes exploring the installation of new reactors after 2030. The discussions follow the July 9 placement of the reactor pressure vessel for unit two at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. Al-Sisi reaffirmed Cairo’s strict adherence to project timelines and ongoing payment obligations.
Beyond traditional power generation, the Egyptian delegation expressed clear interest in developing a research reactor alongside small and floating nuclear reactors. Both nations also examined prospects for cooperation in extracting uranium and rare metals. Meanwhile, Rosatom clarified statements regarding foreign interference, addressing recent friction surrounding attempts to obstruct the initiative.
Bilateral Trade Surpasses Ten Billion Dollars
Economic metrics between Moscow and Cairo reached record highs. Putin noted that bilateral trade surpassed $10 billion in 2025, expanding by another 14 percent during the first eight months of this year. Overall Russian-African trade has climbed 1.5 times since 2022 to exceed $27 billion, with Egypt commanding a substantial share of that volume.
Tourism figures also registered heavy growth. Putin stated that more than 1.2m Russian citizens visited Egypt in the first half of the year, following approximately 1.5m arrivals throughout 2025. Looking toward future administrative milestones, both governments laid groundwork for the 16th meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission, slated to take place in Egypt in 2027.
Regional Security and Diplomatic Coordination in Moscow
The diplomatic agenda built directly upon a previous exchange held on the sidelines of the September 11 BRICS summit in New Delhi. Both leaders emphasized the urgent necessity of de-escalating ongoing Middle Eastern hostilities to restore regional stability. Putin praised Egypt's central diplomatic role, while Moscow pledged to intensify political coordination with Cairo.
Addressing the Horn of Africa, Al-Sisi stressed the vital importance of preserving state sovereignty and territorial integrity. He reiterated that water remains an existential matter for Egypt, voicing complete opposition to any unilateral measures enacted within the Eastern Nile Basin. Regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Al-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s official stance supporting a political settlement achieved through negotiations to mitigate international repercussions.