Egpyt and UAE re-affirm close alliance

This week’s visit to the UAE by Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi is an important affirmation of a renewed alliance between the two countries, based on shared values and a close working relationship. The two governments have taken a lead in supporting the structures that allow stable and inclusive societies to flourish and live under the transparent rule of law, where individuals can be assured of security and opportunity.

This important new alliance includes several other Arab states, like Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries that have worked hard to support Egypt as its new government brought stability to the battered population. This alliance for rational government is important as the Arab world faces continuing bloodshed and chaos in Syria, the sudden emergence of Daesh’s (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) territorial ambitions, the ability of all sorts of dangerous extremist groups to benefit from the chaos and to then spread their destructive message ever wider.

Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya have all collapsed in varying degrees into civil war and chaos. Outsiders cannot judge this mess because foreign soldiers cannot shoot an Arab state into new order. That has to come from within, with the help of their neighbours and others in the region who are able to make the sacrifices to get involved in supporting peace and helping new governments establish themselves and make a good start.

It is also important that both Egypt and the UAE have been successful in stopping the Muslim Brotherhood from extending its malign influence. The ongoing security trials in the UAE are a stark reminder that the UAE faced a threat from a group seeking to destabilise the state.

Al Sissi heads the government that took over after a popular revolt against the dangerous excesses of the previous Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt. This shared experience of stopping the dangers of theocratic government is an important starting point as the two partners and their friends start to help rebuild stability in the Arab world.