Russia - Egypt Relations Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Russia - Egypt Relations - limit Paper ExampleRussia and Egypts relationship is historically complex and has varied considerably along dimensions of amenableness throughout the past one hundred years based on global events that include regions wish well the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Russia has customally seen Egypt as a strategic partner, connecting it to the Middle East for trade and regional influence, while Egypt has traditionally seen Russia as a key trading partner to secure wealth and array infrastructure. In that sense, the political interests of the two nations have generally been congruent. Exceptions to that have occurred with philosophical changes at the top of Egypts government rather than due to changes with Russia which is why the relationship is best understood from the perspective of who was in personnel in Egypt throughout the period. With that in mind, the modern Russia-Egypt relationship can be described in phases the outset phase repre mov eing a warm and open association with the Nasser regime, the second phase representing a cold and culmination association with the Sadat regime, and the third phase from Mubarak to today in which Russia is again treated as a virtually ally. The most helpful place to start with an examination of Russia-Egypt relations is to look at its historical foundation, which began as early as the 1500s and so not surprisingly, based in religion. At that time, the Orthodox Christian tradition was very strong within the Russian political landscape and would significantly influence Russias purpose to get involved with Egypts religious and political affairs. Patriarch Joachim of Alexandria sent correspondence to Russian tsar Ivan IV for assistance to the Sinai Peninsula-based Saint Catherines Monastery, which had been contested by Turkish fighters1. In response, Ivan IV sent a Russian delegation to visit sites across Egypt. Since that showing of support, Russia continued to provide support for Egypts Christian population, which accounts for roughly one-tenth of Egypts total population as of 20102.