Russia has formally named Egypt its largest trade and economic partner in Africa, highlighting a relationship that has grown from Cold War-era military ties into a broad economic partnership. At the center of this evolving alliance is the construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant at El-Dabaa, a project designed to address Egypt’s chronic energy gaps while anchoring Moscow’s long-term influence in North Africa.
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed this week that bilateral trade with Egypt is expected to exceed $9 billion by 2024, a milestone that coincided with the commemoration of 82 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. This economic growth reflects Moscow’s broader strategy of deepening its presence in Africa at a time when Europe’s traditional partners face waning influence and shifting priorities.
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Egypt has become central to this outreach. Beyond energy, cooperation spans agriculture and tourism. Russian agricultural exports to Africa grew by nearly 20 percent in 2024, surpassing $7 billion, with Egypt buying more Russian wheat than any other African country. Imports of sunflower oil, legumes, flax seeds, and yeast have also risen, reinforcing Cairo’s role as a key food security partner. On the tourism front, Russia is expanding its diplomatic presence with a new consulate in Sharm el-Sheikh, reflecting the importance of the tens of thousands of Russian visitors who sustain Egypt’s coastal economies.
The El-Dabaa nuclear power project, launched in 2022 and built by Russia’s state-owned Rosatom, has become the clearest symbol of the two countries’ deepening ties. The plant is intended to diversify Egypt’s heavily fossil-fuel-dependent energy mix, reduce exposure to natural gas price shocks, and generate a reliable base of electricity to power industrial growth and urban expansion.
For Egypt, the project is framed as part of its broader Vision 2030 strategy, which prioritizes energy diversification and sustainable infrastructure. For Russia, it secures long-term involvement in Egypt’s energy sector and positions Moscow as a provider of strategic technology in Africa, reinforcing its emerging role as a counterweight to European influence in the region.
El-Dabaa represents both opportunity and challenge; Nuclear power produces low greenhouse gas emissions during operation, offering Egypt a pathway to reduce its carbon intensity while meeting surging energy demand. It also has the potential to support critical services, from powering hospitals to enabling large-scale desalination projects along the Mediterranean coast, addressing water scarcity in a country facing climate stress.
Nuclear infrastructure requires decades of financial commitment, strict regulatory oversight, and highly specialized technical expertise. Critics argue that long-term waste management and the risk of accidents pose sustainability and safety challenges. Others note that heavy reliance on a foreign partner for fuel supply, technology, and maintenance could reproduce patterns of dependency that have historically constrained African development.
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Egypt’s alignment with Moscow comes at a time when Russia is extending nuclear cooperation to other Sahel countries, including Mali and Burkina Faso, and more recently Niger. These partnerships are reshaping Africa’s geopolitical map, as governments seek alternatives to Western aid and investment. For Africa’s broader development agenda, this trend raises a central question: Can external partnerships in strategic sectors like nuclear power genuinely support African self-reliance, or will they perpetuate reliance on foreign actors?
Egypt’s energy demand continues to grow with its expanding population and industrial ambitions, while domestic natural gas resources face volatility. The success or failure of the El-Dabaa project will have implications well beyond Egypt. If managed effectively, the plant could demonstrate how African nations can leverage strategic resources and partnerships to achieve greater energy security and climate resilience. If mismanaged, it risks burdening the country with debt, environmental liabilities, and renewed dependency—challenges that run counter to the continent’s sustainability agenda.
