Dautovic: Egypt particularly interested in Serbian-made weaponry

Good relations between Serbia and Egypt are based on long-standing ties dating back to the Non-Aligned Movement, and the era of Tito and Nasser, says international relations expert Mirko Dautovic, adding that Egypt is particularly interested in procuring weapons produced in Serbia.

"The old connections from the time of the Non-Aligned Movement, between Yugoslavia and Egypt, still persist. We even have Egyptian students who continue to come to Serbia. However, one of the main products of Serbian manufacture that interests Egypt is our weaponry. It may not be the best in the world, but you get 'the most bang for your buck.' It is quite affordable, and Egypt imports it in significant quantities," Dautovic told for Kosovo Online.

He added that while there is no intelligence cooperation between the two countries, there is an exchange of information regarding radical Islamist movements, such as Salafist movements. He emphasized that Egypt is an important country not only in the Arab world but also in Africa, and highlighted the significance of the visit for Serbia's ongoing struggle to prevent the recognition of Kosovo and to achieve "de-recognition."

"Egypt stands in an unclear zone regarding Kosovo—it recognized Kosovo under President Mohamed Morsi, who was overthrown in a coup by the current President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. It is actually unclear what Egypt's position on Kosovo is. Egypt plays an ambiguous role in this matter; it is clear that they do not support Kosovo's independence, but whether they are actively working on de-recognizing Kosovo, I am not sure," said Dautovic.

He pointed out that Egypt is a massive country in terms of population but is always on the brink of financial, ecological, and food crises.

"A vast number of people are practically hungry, the water issue is enormous and could worsen due to the dam built in Ethiopia. If the Ethiopians accumulate water from the Nile, Egypt will be left without water, which is why Cairo has threatened to bomb the dam if Ethiopia endangers Egypt's security by taking water. Relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the richest countries, are crucial as they financially support Egypt. The country is involved in the civil war in Libya and tries to mediate in ending the conflict between Hamas and Israel, but despite Cairo being the seat of peace negotiations, there have been no results. Egypt must position itself in a way that does not appear too allied, even though it is de facto an ally of Israel. If it appears that they do not protect their Arab brothers, they could face another resolution. Relations with Turkey have been renewed, and they are now communicating. Egypt is a massive but weak country, and if it collapses, it would be like a 'black hole' forming in the Middle East—100 million people would be in a state of anarchy rather than a country. This is also a concern for the EU, as Egypt holds back migrants from Africa from continuing their journey to Europe. If that dam falls, it could be catastrophic, and this is where Egypt's power lies—in preventing its collapse," Dautovic explained the situation in the African country.