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Russia, Egypt look to boost military ties

Russia and Egypt held military exercises as a token of Moscow's increased interest in expanding cooperation with Cairo.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi speaks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin during the first plenary session as part of the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit at the Sirius Park of Science and Art in Sochi, Russia, October 24, 2019. Sergei Chirikov/Pool via REUTERS - RC1AA9297200
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Russia and Egypt are deepening and expanding military and technical cooperation. From Oct. 27 to Nov. 7, the Egyptian air force's tactical training center near Cairo hosted joint military drills, dubbed Arrow of Friendship-1.

For more than a year, Russia’s activity on the Egyptian track has provided grounds for speculation about the prospects for setting up a Russian military base on the ground. As early as two years ago, Moscow and Cairo approved a draft agreement that “would allow each side to use the other’s airspace and air bases.” It did not imply setting up a military base per se, but it did significantly expand military cooperation between the two countries.

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