US wants Egypt ‘on board’ with Palestinian issue: US professor
- WASHINGTON, D.C. — George Washington University Professor Nabil Mikhael was asked Friday why Egyptian President Abdel el-Sisi's recent visit with US counterpart Donald Trump so controversial and about the fallout of the military takeover in Sudan.
"America is about to present a proposal about the Palestinian issue. I see it and many others perceive it as finalization of the Palestinian question that has continued for almost 70 years," he said.
Mikhael was a guest on The Washington Perspective, a Rudaw program that spotlights views on world events in the US capital.
The United States found it important to get Egypt "on board" and ask them:
"Are you still with us and against Iran?
"Are you trying to find some for Syria and Libya and Sudan?
"How do you think about the situation in Algeria?"
Mikhael hypothesized that "President Trump is not too enthused about the 'constitutional amendments' being proposed in Egypt."
Three things America could object to for Egypt are: the idea of an upper chamber in a bicameral legislature, proposals to appoint more than one vice president, a third term by Sisi — bringing similar objections by the Egyptian public which got his predecessor ousted.
What does the US think about Cairo buying Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia?
Egypt risks losing US assistance, if they purchase the planes from Russia, argues Mikhael.
"If it's a tradeoff, will an improvement in military relations with Russia be better than the status quo, which is very cordial and solid between the US military and the Egyptian military?" he posited.
He foresees the question as "too important for public talk" — meaning ultimately it will be the government and military which decide between Moscow and Washington.
"I think perhaps Egypt may move closer to Russia, but not in terms of big arms deals," Mikhael said.
The professor cautioned Egypt against becoming over-reliant on Russia, as Venezuela did with China.
"Don't become so endeared to a power that you assume will replace America," he said, noting the United States has been "very lenient" when it comes to countries owing it money — Egypt, Iraq, and Poland, for example.
"Don't pile up a big debt with Moscow or Beijing because they will ask you to pay it immediately."
How will Trump's administration handle the Sudan situation?
The professor says US action in Sudan is dependent upon the administration's knowledge of the country in wake of the Sudanese military ousting President Omar al-Bashir following three months of anti-government protests.
America neglected Sudan because it "took measures to stop and curtail its ties with some terror groups and as you may recall they hosted [Osamah] bin Laden for a while."
He argues that Sudan can predict US strategy based on "Sudan's ties to Iran."
"America does not like this" because of its "global" anti-Iranian government campaign.
"The degree of change the United States can affect in Sudan is very limited," he said.
Some media have called the transition of power a "mini Arab Spring" or a coup d’état, while the US government has called it a transition of power.
It is a deviation from an obvious comparison: former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's ousting in 2011.
"The difference between Sudan and Egypt is that the Egyptian military actually was asked by people to intervene, and they had good ties with their American counterparts," said Mikhael.
He believes Washington will rely on regional powers before taking a firm stance on the evolving process in Sudan — so long as Khartoum has a leader that can be dealt with "directly or indirectly."
Mikhael foresees "a protracted, but contained crisis" for the African nation "modeled on authoritarianism where there could be openings." That, however, depends on how the military rules during the announced transition period.
The professor believes it’s possible that the situation in Sudan could bring neighboring countries closer, so they avoid having similar fates.
"I don't think it was easier for the US to deal with one strongman instead of a fragmentation of power formula because that strongman was not endeared to the Americans..." he said.
