"Saudi Arabia to prevent Egypt from disrupting 'its Status quo'!

Via FLC

"... as Cairo prepares to change course from Mubarak's unblinking adherence to the region's pro-U.S. bloc, Saudi Arabia can be expected to do its best to prevent both the current military leadership and any future civilian government from disrupting the status quo. Riyadh, whose first concern is blocking the expansion of Iranian influence, has an arsenal of political, economic and social tools to keep Egypt in check. Saudi Arabia's rulers, long accustomed to dealing with Mubarak's autocratic regime, now face an Egyptian leadership that must satisfy a population hungry for substantial, sustained political change...

The greatest potential area for such a shift, though, is in relations with Iran.... Egypt and Iran will not become close allies any time soon, though .... Saudi tanks will not roll into Cairo, but Saudi Arabia has a number of other ways to pressure Egypt's leaders. Egypt is in a precarious economic situation that predates, but was also exacerbated by, the anti-Mubarak uprising. Riyadh demonstrated its support for the status quo and the reach of its economic influence on the eve of Mubarak's departure when it announced that it would step in with financial support if the United States cut off aid to Egypt. The move signaled that Saudi Arabia is willing to go against its backers in Washington when it perceives a threat to regional stability.... Since Mubarak's ouster, Saudi investors have pumped more than $10 billion into the Egyptian private sector. No one in Saudi Arabia has said outright that the money will be cut off if Egypt gets too close to Iran, but the possibility is well-known.... rumors circulated in the Egyptian press that Egyptians were being denied visas to the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for Egyptian overtures to Iran. Though denied by Emirati and Egyptian officials, the rumors underscored the fear that the labor-export relationship is vulnerable to the broader regional power plays....... ..... Saudi sheikhs hold tremendous sway with Egypt's hard-line Salafi Muslims. ... As Salafis continue to foment chaos through sectarian attacks and influence politics by pressuring the Muslim Brotherhood, they can act in Saudi Arabia's interests in Egypt..."

Posted by G, M, Z, or B at 12:58 PM

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