Al -Jazeera Net Correspondents
Cairo- Despite its repeated announcement, supporting the Syrian territory and standing alongside the options of the Syrian people, deals Egypt Careful with the new leadership in Damascus headed by the President Ahmed Al -SharaBased on the considerations of its national security and its regional and international alliances, as well as its fear of rapid engagement in a system that has not yet settled its political and security conditions.
Despite the meeting that brought together the Egyptian President Abdel -Fattah Al -Sisi With his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed Al -Shara, last March bCairoOn the sidelines of the exceptional Arab summit, which then revealed the existence of a rapid rapprochement between the two countries, the pace of the Egyptian steps towards Damascus is going slowly, which raises questions about the backgrounds of this wait.
Observers believe that Egypt, despite the privacy of its historical relationship bSyriaThe current Syrian scene still is mysterious, whether in terms of its political or security stability, as well as anxiety from the Islamic background of the new regime, and its strong relationship with Ankara, which is a rapprochement that is not without embarrassment for Egyptian diplomacy, in light of regional competition with Türkiye.
Mashhad anxious political
In his interview with Al -Jazeera Net, the expert in international relations, Ayman Samir, confirms that Syria is going through a stage of re -forming at the political and security levels, amid great challenges facing the new leadership, especially regarding armed groups that still control large areas of the country.
Samir notes that there are tens of thousands of families associated with my fighters ISIS And other armed organizations, who live in camps such as “HorrorAnd, which keeps the security situation in the country in constant tension.
Despite some international openness to Damascus, Samir notes that Syria is still ranked among the list of countries sponsoring terrorism in American politics, which reflects the continuation of caution in dealing The international community With it, not only Cairo. He adds: “Even European countries when they are studying the reduction of sanctions, they do so gradually and with the utmost caution, which is the same as Egypt.”
The Egyptian expert stresses that Cairo was keen from the beginning to adopt a balanced position, as it received the new Syrian president during the Arab summit, and provided humanitarian aid, as well as hosted by thousands of Syrian refugees, but at the same time it was keen to keep the relationship at the level of support of the people only.
He adds that Egypt did not hesitate to support the Syrian position in the face of Israeli violations, especially with regard to cancellation The Connection Convention for the year 1974 The occupation control over areas in Daraa, Quneitra and As -Suwayda. He says: “In such files, Cairo stands clearly alongside Damascus, while adhering to the principle of rejecting external interference.”
Samir concludes his speech by confirming the Egyptian position to support a comprehensive Syrian political solution, based on dialogue between all components of Syrian society, and ensures the state restores its position and its Arab and regional role.
Strategic accounts
As for the professor of political science at the American University of Cairo, Noha Bakr, she believes that the Egyptian -Syrian relations, after the departure of a regime Bashar al -AssadIt is subject to accurate strategic accounts, which are primarily linked to preventing the transformation Syria To a focus of chaos or a starting point for militant groups that may threaten Egyptian security.
Bakr tells Al -Jazeera Net that Cairo adopts what it described as “cautious neutrality”, pending the clear features of the new authority in Damascus, stressing that stability in Syria is a prerequisite for any serious Egyptian involvement in the process of reconstruction or investment in the fields of energy, especially what is related to the export of Egyptian gas through Syrian territory.
She adds that these plans may clash with internal obstacles, most notably the fragility of the political situation and ethnic and sectarian divisions, in addition to what is raised about the relationship of some of the pillars of the new Syrian regime bThe Muslim BrotherhoodAnd that Egypt considers a direct threat to its national security and its political identity.
Bakr concludes by emphasizing that Cairo’s priority is to protect its security and internal stability, explaining that the policy of slowdown in opening cooperation channels with Damascus This realistic vision reflects.
Sharia past worries the present
In the same context, the researcher in Arab and international affairs, Dr. Muhammad Al -Yamani, connects the Egyptian wait for the background of President Ahmed Al -Shara, noting that he was related to groups with hard -line orientations, which raises concern within the Egyptian decision -making institutions.
The Yemeni tells Al -Jazeera Net that Syria is still witnessing internal conflicts on sectarian and ethnic foundations, as recently happened with some components of Syrian society, such as Druze The Shiites, which strengthens Cairo’s position in avoiding involvement in alliances that may negatively reflect on its stability.
And it confirms that the Egyptian foreign policy is characterized by flexibility and pragmatism, but it does not tolerate the files that affect its direct security, citing Egypt’s decisive positions in dealing with challenges on the borders with Libya Walalumaner.
It also points to the existence of increasing American pressure on allies Washington To recognize the new Syrian government, within the framework of the US President’s policy Donald Trump To lift the sanctions, including the “Caesar Law”, with the aim of reintegrating Syria into the international system, but the Yemeni confirms that these steps have not changed the field reality much, as the internal division is still the master of the situation.
The researcher concludes with a reference to the historical dimension of the relationship between the two countries: “The Egyptian and Syrian armies stood together in October War 1973, and they achieved a great victory over Israel, but the circumstances today are different, and the current complications require the recreation, not rush. ”