MESA Banner
The Israeli-Egyptian-American Strategic Triangle: a Reassessment in light of the Arab Uprising
Abstract
The conclusion of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty in 1979 constituted a landmark in the balance of power both regionally and internationally. Ever-since its conclusion, the budding relations between the former foes have gone through many difficulties and faced concrete challenges. The downfall of the three-decade Mubarak regime posed a question mark concerning its future. Nevertheless, The Peace Agreement between the two countries has proven to be solid and stable. Surprisingly, even the short-lived Muslim Brothers period in power did not lead to a considerable change. The question arises is why? What were the reasons and factors that prevented dramatic changes in the Israeli-Egyptian complex equation? In answering this question, I will argue that this peace treaty would not have reached its present shape had the USA not constituted an integral part of it. The US involvement in and commitment to the maintenance of the treaty was most significant. Egypt and Israel have become the two main beneficiaries of US foreign aid (the two countries received together about 50 percent of the aid). The agreement also ensured a symbolic American presence in Sinai, in place to this day, which apparently neither side would agree to waive. The recent inter-power maneuvering game played by Egypt׳s present military regime intended to put pressure on the US government to moderate its criticism of the regression in Egypt's pace towards democracy following the July 2013 coup. The flirt with Russia's Putin is tactical and may fit in with the early phases of the Cold War in the Middle East when Egypt's respective governments, before and after the 1952 revolution, embraced the doctrine of what I defined as Calculative/Pragmatic Nationalist Neutralism. In short, this paradigm may be defined as the utilization and manipulation of the emerging inter-bloc conflict in order to advance their national goals and aspirations. In my paper, I will focus on the present state of affairs in Egyptian-American relations, and my analysis of its possible evolution is to be based on the special characters of this relationship taking into account the US commitment to Israel's security and the preservation and continuity of the peace treaty.
Discipline
History
Geographic Area
Other
Sub Area
Current Events