Xi puts China into the Middle East security equation

Following Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s farewell to Chinese President Xi Jinping at Cairo Airport on September 2, the two leaders discussed regional security and coordination. Egypt was considering Xi’s proposal for a "new security architecture" for the Middle East, which Xi outlined in Cairo. The proposal placed security responsibility on regional states, addressed crises comprehensively, linked security to development, and relied on international law and the UN.

This proposal emphasized China’s growing capacity to shape political and security arrangements in a changing strategic environment. Xi’s visit coincided with Chinese fighter aircraft participating in Egypt’s military exercises and Huawei proposing AI data centers in Egypt, potentially making China an alternative to US firms in defense and technology.

Analysts noted a cool encounter between Xi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the SCO summit, suggesting China may be pressing Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resolve disputes with Saudi Arabia. New US sanctions against Iran bolster Beijing’s position, as Türkiye declared readiness to join the SCO as a full member, broadening the bloc’s presence in the Middle East.

Qatar’s turn towards China, marked by a visit from the Qatari Foreign Minister, also received Xi’s attention. However, the proposal is difficult to examine without considering the Mecca Defence Alliance, a mutual defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye, as well as China’s expanding ties with these countries.