Russian military working on deal to use Egyptian air bases
US officials said in March that Russia had deployed special forces in Egypt near the border with Libya
PHOTO: AFP
MOSCOW:
Russia's government published a draft agreement between Russia and Egypt on Thursday allowing both countries to use each other's air space and air bases for their military planes.
The draft deal was set out in a decree, signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Nov 28, which ordered the Russian Defence Ministry to hold negotiations with Egyptian officials and to sign the document once both sides reached an agreement.
Russian plane crashes in Egypt, killing all 224 onboard
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Cairo for talks with Egypt's political and military leadership on Wednesday and the decree said the draft had been "preliminary worked through with the Egyptian side" and approved by Medvedev.
Russia launched a military operation to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in September 2015 and there are signs it is keen to further expand its military presence in the region.
US officials said in March that Russia had deployed special forces in Egypt near the border with Libya, an allegation Moscow denied.
France says Egypt to buy warships after Russia deal scrapped
Russia has cultivated close ties with powerful Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, who held talks with Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, via video link from a Russian aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean this year and visited Moscow.
Russian and Egyptian war planes would be able to use each other's air space and airfields by giving five days advance notice, according to the draft agreement, which is expected to be valid for five years and could be extended.
Russia's government published a draft agreement between Russia and Egypt on Thursday allowing both countries to use each other's air space and air bases for their military planes.
The draft deal was set out in a decree, signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Nov 28, which ordered the Russian Defence Ministry to hold negotiations with Egyptian officials and to sign the document once both sides reached an agreement.
Russian plane crashes in Egypt, killing all 224 onboard
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Cairo for talks with Egypt's political and military leadership on Wednesday and the decree said the draft had been "preliminary worked through with the Egyptian side" and approved by Medvedev.
Russia launched a military operation to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in September 2015 and there are signs it is keen to further expand its military presence in the region.
US officials said in March that Russia had deployed special forces in Egypt near the border with Libya, an allegation Moscow denied.
France says Egypt to buy warships after Russia deal scrapped
Russia has cultivated close ties with powerful Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, who held talks with Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, via video link from a Russian aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean this year and visited Moscow.
Russian and Egyptian war planes would be able to use each other's air space and airfields by giving five days advance notice, according to the draft agreement, which is expected to be valid for five years and could be extended.