Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, will begin a tour of Africa by visiting Egypt this seeking in hopes to find non-Western alliances as Russia continues to push back against international censure over the war in Ukraine. While in Egypt, the Russian foreign minister will meet with government officials to work to square deep links between Russia with their close relationship with the United States.

After Egypt, Lavrov will visit the Arab League members in Cairo, and then will travel to Ethiopia and Uganda as their relationships with the West have also come under strain.

Egypt specifically has strategic and economic ties that currently exist with Russia which has been the key for recent years of wheat trade, weapon trade, and tourism. The Russian-owned energy corporation Rosatom started construction on Egypt’s first nuclear plan. This specific project as well as the historical ties between Egypt and Russia have caused issues within the Western countries.

The relationship between the United States and Egypt remains neutral. However, the Western stance on the war has gained very minimal traction throughout the Arab world and the majority of Africa. Lavrov says, “Egypt identifies that the world is becoming more and not less multipolar, and it doesn't want to limit itself to a relationship that privileges the West above all else.”