According to leaked intelligence documents cited by The Washington Post, Egypt has decided to suspend its plans to manufacture rockets for Russia and instead provide ammunition to Ukraine after talks with US officials. The newspaper had previously reported that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi planned to produce 40,000 rockets for Russia in secret. However, the new report, based on Pentagon files that have been circulating online, suggests that Cairo changed course in early March.
The shift in Egypt's stance is being hailed as an "apparent diplomatic win" for President Joe Biden's administration. The move comes as the US and Russia remain at odds over a range of issues, including Moscow's ongoing war in Ukraine.
Despite being a close US ally, Egypt maintains warm ties with Russia. However, the country has denied plans to produce rockets for Russian forces, emphasizing its policy of "noninvolvement" in the conflict in Ukraine.
In a related development, US authorities recently arrested an Air Force National Guard member for allegedly posting secret documents online. The documents, which appeared on the social media platform Discord, included information about Western military support for Ukraine, intelligence gathered from allied states, and details of Russia's war effort.