Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In response to mounting regional tensions and recent media reports, Egypt has strongly reaffirmed the legitimacy of its military presence in the Sinai Peninsula, citing national security imperatives and adherence to international agreements. The official statement, issued by Egypt’s State Information Service on Saturday evening, emphasized that the deployment of Egyptian forces in Sinai is intended to safeguard the country’s borders against terrorism, smuggling, and other security threats.
The Egyptian government underscored that all military movements in the region are fully coordinated within the framework of the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, which it has consistently respected. Egypt reiterated its longstanding commitment to international agreements, noting that it has never violated a treaty or accord throughout its history.
The statement comes in the wake of a report by the American news outlet Axios, which claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had urged the U.S. administration under former President Donald Trump to pressure Egypt into reducing its military presence in Sinai. Citing unnamed Israeli officials, the report alleged that Egypt’s recent military buildup in the region had become a new point of friction between Cairo and Tel Aviv, particularly against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Gaza.
According to the Axios report, Netanyahu presented a list of Egyptian activities in Sinai to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a recent meeting in Jerusalem. These activities, he argued, constituted what he described as “serious violations” of the peace agreement, to which the United States is a guarantor. Among the Israeli concerns were claims that Egypt had expanded airfields to accommodate fighter jets and constructed underground facilities potentially intended for missile storage, assertions that remain unverified and speculative.
An Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, denied the Israeli allegations and clarified that the U.S. administration had not raised any concerns with Cairo on the matter. The official stressed that all military infrastructure developments in Sinai fall within Egypt’s sovereign right to protect its national security and are in line with agreements previously coordinated with treaty stakeholders.
Egypt also used the opportunity to firmly oppose the Israeli military escalation in Gaza and any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians. The government reiterated its support for the two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace in the region, calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
As the conflict in Gaza intensifies, Cairo has stressed the necessity for heightened vigilance and readiness. The government stated that the war has compelled the Egyptian armed forces to remain on high alert, fully mobilized with all capabilities and experience, to respond to any threat that may affect Egyptian national security.
This assertive stance reflects Egypt’s broader role as a regional stabilizer, navigating complex geopolitical dynamics while balancing its security interests and its longstanding commitment to peace and diplomacy.
