The Geopolitics of Daggers in Deserts
This isn't surprising for those paying attention. Egypt and what it perceives as its strategic interests have long been intertwined with the Horn of Africa and the Nile Basin. The Nile, of course, is a rather critical lifeline. Any hint of a rival power gaining a foothold upstream tends to send shivers down Egyptian spines. Meanwhile, Netanyahu's government, ever eager to secure new allies and
markets, as well as to isolate the Palestinian cause (a consistent foreign policy objective), has been aggressively pushing for normalization and increased presence across the continent. THE ACTORS: On one side, we have Egypt's intelligence apparatus, clearly acting on directives from President Sisi’s government, and its diplomatic corps. On the other, the Israeli government and its intelligence
agencies, including Mossad, identified as active in Sudan and Ethiopia. African nations, particularly those in the Nile Basin, are less actors and more geopolitical pawns in this grander vision of economic and strategic access. THE FUNDING: While specific sums for Egypt's counter-insurgency are undisclosed, Egypt receives substantial military aid from the U.S. – approximately $1.3 billion annually
(Congressional Research Service, 2023). This aid, ostensibly for regional stability, implicitly supports its geopolitical maneuvering. For Israel, its burgeoning arms industry and expertise in surveillance technology are key exports, with Africa representing a growing market. The Israel Export Institute reported a 12.5% increase in defense exports in 2022 , reaching $12.5 billion, with African