Russian Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu arrived in Cairo on Sunday at the head of a large team of senior defence, space and nuclear officials for talks with Egypt’s leadership, the RIA news agency reported.
Shoigu is slated to meet President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, along with Egypt’s national security adviser and the foreign and defence ministers, as well as senior security and intelligence chiefs, RIA said.
Discussions will focus on implementing agreements reached at top level, with an emphasis on military and military-technical cooperation, according to a statement from the Russian Security Council’s press service cited by RIA.
A longtime ally of President Vladimir Putin and former defence minister who oversaw much of the war in Ukraine, Shoigu remains a pivotal figure within Russia’s defence and security establishment and an influential voice on Kremlin policy.
Moscow and Cairo retain close ties that blend Soviet-era military links with substantial energy and grain trade. Egypt has sought to balance relations with Russia, Western partners and Gulf allies amid the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
RIA said the delegation includes representatives from arms exporter Rosoboronexport, space agency Roscosmos, nuclear corporation Rosatom, the interior, foreign, justice and industry ministries, and the National Guard.