European Union and United States approaches towards Egypt: the trap of short-term realism. College of Europe Policy Brief #12.17, November 2017

Didier, Brice (2017) European Union and United States approaches towards Egypt: the trap of short-term realism. College of Europe Policy Brief #12.17, November 2017. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

Executive Summary > Since the overthrow of President Morsi by the military in 2013, domestic developments in Egypt have had a ‘cancellation effect’ on the transition process toward democracy initiated in 2011. > Increasingly used by the US as a strategic relay and by the EU as a watchman, Egypt heavily relies on Western economic aid and military support to sustain itself. > While in the US, Trump’s approach falls in line with Obama’s realism, the European Union is returning to a pre-Arab Spring accommodation of authoritarianism, revealing a pervasiveness of short-term realism among Western views on Egypt. > Renewed realist approaches in Washington and European capitals comfort Cairo, allowing Al-Sisi to ‘shop’ for support on both sides of the Atlantic. > By contrast, enhanced EU-US convergence towards greater attention for democracy and human rights would compel the regime to initiate social and societal reforms fostering long-term domestic stability.

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