Xi Jinping Visits Egypt, Meets Sissi Amid US Rivalry

Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Egypt this week for talks with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, according to reports on the trip. While framed as a routine economic and diplomatic exchange, the visit carries strategic weight: Beijing is deepening ties with a key U.S. ally in the Middle East as it seeks to expand influence in the region. Analysts say Xi is positioning China as a steady alternative to Washington, contrasting it with America's decades of military involvement in the region, including its recent six-month conflict with Iran. The meeting underscores growing competition between the U.S. and China for influence over strategically vital Middle Eastern partners, a trend Washington will be watching closely as it works to preserve its alliances in the region.