Egypt sends planeload of medical supplies to help US battle coronavirus

Rare reversal of roles as Cairo receives more than $1bn a year in military and economic aid from Washington

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  Airport staff unload medical aid sent to Italy from Egypt near Rome. EPA

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  Airport staff unload medical aid sent to Italy from Egypt near Rome. EPA

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  Airport staff unload medical aid sent to Italy from Egypt near Rome. EPA

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  Airport staff unload medical aid sent to Italy from Egypt near Rome. EPA

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  Airport staff unload medical aid sent to Italy from Egypt near Rome. EPA

Egypt this week donated a planeload of medical supplies to the US, the latest goodwill gesture by the nation to show solidarity with allies who are also fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

But the donation to the US has a much bigger symbolic significance, as it reverses roles enshrined over four decades in which Egypt has received US assistance.

Washington sends more than $1 billion (Dh3.67bn) a year in military and economic aid to Cairo, in a deal to reward Egypt for signing a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, ending 25 years of hostilities including four wars.

US aid over the past four decades helped Egypt’s military set aside resources to build an economic empire that has often been a safety net in times of crisis.

Last week, the military’s factories began producing surgical masks to guard against the coronavirus. They are distributed for free to commuters.

“It is a great symbol of our solidarity and the value you place on our strategic partnership,” US ambassador to Egypt, Jonathan Cohen, said in a video addressed to Egyptians and their government.

The Egyptian donation was  a reflection of the close relationship forged between President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and the US leader, Donald Trump.

Those ties go back to Mr Trump’s pre-election days when the two met in 2016 on the sidelines of UN General Assembly in New York.

There Mr El Sisi publicly stated his support for Mr Trump, who was then the Republican candidate for the US presidency.

The donation to the US, and to Italy and China before, belies Egypt's limited resources.

It caused controversy in Egypt, with some speculating as to whether there were enough medical supplies at home to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

The latest figures released on Wednesday night show Egypt had 3,659 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 276 coronavirus-related deaths.

Those figures are a fraction of the tens of thousands of infections and deaths in places such as the US, Italy or Spain.

But the real danger in Egypt is that its health system could be overwhelmed quickly if these numbers grew significantly.

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  Egyptian youths prepare decorations for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, also known to Egyptians as "Zeinat Ramadan". Reuters

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  Closed stalls in Attaba market place during the national holiday of Sham El Nessim marking the beginning of spring season in Cairo. EPA

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  Streets and public places across the country remained deserted due to additional coronavirus-related restrictions imposed by the authorities on the national holiday of Sham El Nessim. EPA

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  Egyptian soldiers wearing face mask stand on the Qasr Nile bridge to ensure people abiding by restrictions during the national holiday of Sham El Nessim.EPA

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  A general view of the deserted Moustaf Kamel Square during the national holiday of Sham El Nessim, a day that usually sees thousands of people going out picnicking in public gardens. EPA

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  An Egyptian soldier wearing face mask stands on the Qasr Nile bridge during the national holiday of Sham El Nessim. EPA

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  Children watch the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza, Egypt. EPA

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  A man assists in the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza. EPA

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  People put up decorations and ornaments in the local tradition in Egypt as part of the celebration of the Holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to start in Egypt on 24 April 2020. EPA

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  Children react to the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza, Egypt, 20 April 2020. EPA

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  A woman dances during the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza. EPA

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  A woman blows a balloon during the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza.EPA

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  Children assist in the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza. EPA

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  People put up decorations and ornaments in the local tradition in Egypt as part of the celebration of the Holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to start in Egypt on 24 April 2020. EPA

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  Children assist in the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza. EPA

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  An Egyptian seller cleans a traditional Ramadan lantern called "fanous" at his shop ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Reuters

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  Egyptian youths prepare decorations for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Reuters

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  Egyptian youth prepare decorations for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Reuters

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  Ramadan decorations hang on a street that is on complete lockdown after a family was tested positive due to coronavirus in Bahtim, Shubra El Kheima neighbourhood of Qalyoubiya governorate. AP

Analysts regarded the Egyptian gestures as smart diplomacy that would almost certainly be reciprocated if Egypt needed help with its fight against Covid-19 or other problems after the pandemic.

But the donations appear to be in line with Mr El Sisi’s repeated assertions of the need for better international co-operation on major challenges such as terrorism and illegal migration.

So did the surprise visit to China last month by Egypt’s Health Minister, Hala Zayed, to show solidarity with the Beijing government at the height of its battle against the virus.

Me El Sisi has also spoken extensively about common grounds shared by all nations regardless of wealth, ethnicity or faith.

On March 1, Egypt lit three of its best-known historical sites – the 12th century Saladin castle in Cairo and two pharaonic temples in southern Egypt – in the red and yellow star of the Chinese flag to show solidarity amid the pandemic.

China is one of Egypt’s biggest trading partners.

Egypt under Mr El Sisi, who has been in power since 2014, has consistently rushed to help poorer African nations after natural disasters.

It has trained thousands of African professionals and sent medical teams and field hospitals to help eradicate common diseases on the continent.

Mr El Sisi said the two planeloads of supplies sent to Rome were a symbolic gesture.

“The goal of offering a helping hand to friendly and brotherly countries is to show our solidarity with nations suffering a severe predicament,” he said on April 7.

“The whole world is suffering but there are some countries that are cruelly suffering, so to give them support is important even if it’s symbolic.

“Let me tell you that we have the ability to offer more support, but then someone may ask: ‘Do you have enough resources to help other nations?’

"Well, we just offer small amounts.”