In recent months there has been a significant, even unprecedented rise in contacts between Russia and the new government in Egypt. The main topic discussed in these talks is increasing bilateral military cooperation. According to many reports, a large arms deal, to the tune of $2-3 billion, was discussed, and possibly even reached. If the talks between Egypt and Russia lead to a significant arms deal, this would represent an important change in Egyptian policy. A decision by the current Egyptian government several months after it came to power to sign a large arms deal with Russia implies that it is prepared to change, even to a limited extent, the balance of its relations with the two large powers.
