El-Sisi Asks Putin to Expand Nuclear Cooperation and Build New Reactors After 2030

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the Kremlin on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the third Russia-Africa summit, that Cairo hopes to expand its nuclear cooperation with Moscow, including new reactors after 2030.

El-Sisi reiterated Egypt's commitment to the implementation schedule and financial payments for the Dabaa nuclear power plant, pointing to the installation of the pressure vessel in the second reactor on July 9 last year. He also expressed interest in building a research reactor, alongside small-scale and floating nuclear reactors, and cooperation in uranium extraction and rare earth metals.

On the economic side, Putin pointed out that bilateral trade exchange reached a record high exceeding $10 billion in 2025, growing by 14% during the first eight months of this year. He noted that overall trade exchange between Russia and Africa has grown 1.5 times since 2022, surpassing $27 billion, with Egypt representing a large share of it.

El-Sisi affirmed that Egypt is ready to provide all preferences, exemptions, and support to the Russian company operating the Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The two sides discussed preparations for the sixteenth meeting of the joint intergovernmental committee, scheduled to be held in Egypt in 2027, in addition to cooperation files in grain supplies, health, education, and scientific research.

On the tourism front, Putin reported that more than 1.2 million Russian tourists visited Egypt in the first half of the year, following approximately 1.5 million visits throughout 2025.

On the diplomatic level, the meeting came as a continuation of a previous exchange of views between the two leaders on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 11. Putin praised Egypt's pivotal role in the region, affirming Russia's intention to intensify political coordination with Cairo.

On regional issues, the two presidents stressed the necessity of de-escalating tensions in the Middle East to restore regional stability. El-Sisi emphasized the necessity of preserving peace and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in the Horn of Africa region, and his outright rejection of unilateral measures in the Eastern Nile Basin, expressing Egypt's support for a political negotiated solution to the Ukrainian crisis.