40,000 bomb devices from Egypt?: Pentagon leak: US ally wants to supply missiles to Russia

40,000 explosives from Egypt?
Pentagon leaks: US ally wanted to supply missiles to Russia

04/11/2023, 07:00 am

Reports of munitions shortages in Russia’s war of aggression are nothing new: According to US intelligence documents, the Kremlin has been spotted supplying Egypt with new missiles. However, according to US government officials, the authenticity of the documents cannot be guaranteed.

The release of secret military and intelligence documents on the Internet brings to light explosive details about Russia’s war of aggression. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi recently ordered the secret delivery of 40,000 rockets to Russia. The Washington Post reported. Egypt is one of America’s closest allies in the Middle East, and the US government has provided billions of dollars in military aid over the years.

The top-secret documents, dated February 17, include alleged talks between El-Sisi and senior Egyptian military officials and their plans to supply Russia with artillery shells and ammunition. In the document, Sisi advises officials to keep the production and delivery of missiles secret “to avoid problems with the West”.

Asked about the documents, Egyptian Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid said his country would continue to maintain an equal distance from both sides and support the UN Charter. We have been urging both sides to stop hostilities and reach a political solution through negotiations, he said.

The documents also mention Mohamed Salah El-Din, the minister responsible for the arms industry. In response to his president’s instructions, he announced that factory workers would work in shifts if necessary to ensure supplies. El-Din said in the documents that this is what Egypt could do in return for Russian help.

Egypt deepens ties with Russia

Moscow and Cairo have struck several notable deals recently, including one this year in which Russia pledged to build a major railway manufacturing facility in Egypt. Also, Russia’s state-owned nuclear company Rosatom began construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant last year.

However, arming Russia for its war in Ukraine will not be without consequences for Egypt. Despite deepening ties with Moscow, the country still maintains a strong partnership with the United States. The United States has provided the country with $1.3 billion a year in military aid for decades. Providing arms to Russia could jeopardize further aid or result in sanctions.

The document does not explain why Russia is interested in buying the missiles. The Russian military used large amounts of munitions in the war, and according to the US government, a new supplier of artillery shells has already been found in North Korea.

According to government sources, various issues raised in the documents related to the war in Ukraine, China, the Middle East and Africa suggest that they were sent by an American, not an ally. However, there are doubts about the authenticity of the documents.

Two US government officials told Reuters they could not rule out that the documents had been tampered with. In this way, an attempt could be made to mislead investigators about the origin of the documents or to spread false information harmful to US security interests.