Behind-the-scenes details reveal dangerous Egyptian moves
Written by Ayman Bahr 🇪🇬
A new move on the chessboard of international politics reveals the outlines of an Egyptian role that transcends the traditional framework of diplomacy and confirms that Cairo has become an active player in the equations of multipolar influence. This is demonstrated through the visit of Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to Egypt and his meeting with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi—a visit that carries far deeper dimensions than what appears on the surface.
Written by Ayman Bahr
Some may think the visit is nothing more than a routine official protocol, or question the weight of Iraqi Kurdistan in the balance of regional conflicts, but this assessment reflects a limited understanding of the current situation in the Middle East and the pivotal role the region plays in security and political balances.
The initial reading of the visit suggests a focus on ways to enhance economic and developmental cooperation and benefit from Egyptian expertise in vital sectors needed by the region—legitimate and natural matters within the context of bilateral relations. However, what transpired behind the scenes carries more sensitive implications, especially with the presence of the head of Egyptian General Intelligence during the official meetings, reflecting the strategic and security-oriented nature of the discussions.
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq represents a significant player in the regional conflict equation, particularly in the areas of combating terrorism, Turkish expansion, and the Syrian crisis. The region was a key pillar in the war against ISIS, with the Peshmerga forces playing a pivotal role within the international coalition and successfully recapturing vast areas that had been under the control of terrorist organizations.
The region also became a major operations base for the international coalition, hosting military bases and coordination centers that played a crucial role in directing airstrikes and drying up sources of terrorism within Iraq, which gave Kurdistan a security weight that cannot be ignored in any calculations related to the stability of the region.
The region's importance becomes even more apparent when considering the current Syrian landscape, where armed groups with extremist Islamist backgrounds, well-known to Iraq and Kurdistan, are resurfacing after having been previously defeated by Iraqi and Peshmerga forces. This makes security coordination with the region a vital matter for Egypt.
As for relations with Turkey, Iraqi Kurdistan represents a historical point of tension for Ankara due to the protracted conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the ongoing Turkish military incursions into northern Iraq. Turkey views the region as a direct extension of its national security, creating an open space for political and security clashes.
In this context, Cairo acquires special importance in regional calculations, particularly given the entanglement of Egyptian and Turkish interests in sensitive issues such as Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean. Just as Ankara is active in areas that affect Egyptian national security, Cairo, in turn, possesses leverage in regions of strategic importance to Turkey.
With talk of Turkish efforts to launch a potential peace process with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in exchange for continued military operations and the absence of genuine guarantees, the picture becomes even more complex, opening the door for regional and international roles in mediation or political pressure.
From this perspective, Masrour Barzani's visit to Cairo can be interpreted as a step that goes beyond bilateral cooperation towards exploring broader political and security roles, which may include potential Egyptian mediation or at least strategic coordination that grants Cairo additional influence in one of Turkey's most sensitive points of contention.
Although Egyptian policy has traditionally been characterized by caution in using external conflicts for its direct benefit, regional changes necessitate a reassessment of its tools of influence, especially in light of a reality where experience confirms that international politics recognizes neither permanent enemies nor permanent allies, but is governed solely by interests.
In this context, Cairo appears to have a real opportunity to re-employ its regional influence intelligently and quietly through the gateway of Iraqi Kurdistan, thereby strengthening its national security and restoring balance to the power dynamics in the Middle East.
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