Egypt’s Rapid Military Buildup Sparks Unease in Israel

As Egypt cements its role as a key mediator in ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations, Cairo is also quietly accelerating one of its most ambitious military build-up campaigns in decades, a move that has not gone unnoticed in Jerusalem, per a recent Walla report.

According to reports, Egypt plans to invest billions of dollars in new defense deals with the United States, including the acquisition of advanced submarines and aircraft, alongside major upgrades to its ground forces.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has overseen five major shifts in Egypt’s military in recent years:

1. Massive reinforcement of the armored corps, including a $5 billion U.S. deal for tank upgrades, precision-guided munitions, and enhanced ground combat capabilities.

2. Expanded military presence in the Sinai Peninsula, ostensibly for counterterrorism but raising concerns that the buildup exceeds the limits set in the Egypt–Israel peace treaty’s military annex.

3. Diversification of arms suppliers to reduce dependency on any single state, including Western and Russian partners.

4. Strengthening of naval and air power across both the Red Sea and Mediterranean, with continued purchases of submarines, corvettes, and fighter aircraft.

5. Formation of light infantry divisions, designed to protect the regime and maintain domestic political control during crises.

Israeli defense officials have declined to comment directly but confirmed that “ongoing dialogue” with Egypt and the U.S. continues regarding Cairo’s growing capabilities.

Analysts say the moves reflect Egypt’s bid to reassert regional influence and ensure it plays a central role in Gaza’s post-war landscape.

Egypt’s “Extra News” and “Al-Qahera” channels report that Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad has arrived in Israel earlier today for meetings with senior Israeli officials and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss stabilizing the Gaza ceasefire. The visit coincides with the arrival of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, reflecting intensified diplomatic coordination between Cairo, Washington, and Jerusalem on the truce’s next phase.