After Saudi officials visited the Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia, Egypt’s media launched an attack against the Kingdom which adds up to the already strained tensions in the relations of both countries.
Many Egyptian media platforms considered it as a “political intrigue” in response to the Egyptian stance in the Syrian file that opposes Saudi Arabia’s policy.
In addition, talk show hosts in Egypt criticized Saudi Arabia and its military interventions in the region after its officials visited the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam [GERD].
It is noteworthy that the Renaissance Dam is considered a sensitive issue to Egypt as it fears that it would have negative repercussions on its water share (55.5 billion cubic meters) from the Nile River.
Saudi Arabia was a major supporter of the military-backed regime in Egypt following the 2013 coup against Mohamed Morsi, the country’s first democratically elected president, and has poured billions of dollars in support to al-Sisi regime.
However, since Egypt’s vote on the Russian-backed draft resolution in the United Nations Security Council, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have started a cold war on media platforms.
In this context, there is no doubt that Egypt is alarmed by the recent Saudi relations with Ethiopia as it came amid the tensions between Riyadh and Cairo on regional issues.
Riyadh is slowly moving towards isolation after it has cut its ties with Iran.
pk.shafaqna.com