Saudi plans to open a military base in the tiny Rea Sea state of Djibouti have raised concerns among Egyptian officials, as strained relations between Cairo and Riyadh show little sign of improving.
The base, which will reportedly be built "very soon", would threaten national security, and the Egyptian government is "deeply suspicious", according to a diplomatic source.
Djibouti is strategically located in the Horn of Africa across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, where the Saudis have been waging war against Houthi rebels. A recent UK report suggested that Iran has been smuggling weapons to the rebels via the waterways surrounding Yemen.
"Cairo is totally against the deal because it considers Djibouti to be under the Egyptian sphere of influence and because its location is important for national security," an Egyptian diplomatic source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The New Arab.
"This move goes against the generally accepted customs between Arab countries as the area has a direct influence on the passage of ships towards the Suez Canal.
"If Saudi Arabia wants to ensure that Iran does not take control of the area, that is understandable - however, this must take place with Egyptian oversight and permission."
The Egyptian government was supported by billions of dollars in aid from Saudi Arabia in the immediate aftermath of the 2013 military coup against former Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammad Morsi, but ties appear to have frayed between the two countries amid disagreements over Syria.
Saudi Arabia backs rebels trying to oust Assad, while Egypt has expressed support for the Syrian leader.
Saudi Arabia suspended oil shipments to Egypt in October, a move announced after Cairo backed a Russian-drafted resolution on Syria in the UN Security Council.
This week, sources told The New Arab that Saudi Arabia would not mend ties with Egypt until Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri was sacked and two contested Red Sea islands were transferred to Saudi sovereignty.
Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said the deal to build the Saudi military base would happen "very soon".
"The security, military and strategic draft of the accord is ready and the coastal areas that could host the base, be it military or naval, have been identified after Saudi military officers and officials explored some areas in the country."
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Deputy Crown Prince Bin Salman (R) wants Sisi to sack his foreign minister [AFP/Getty composite
Date of publication: 4 December, 2016
This comes as strained relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia show no signs of improving.
"The crisis between the two countries is too complicated to be resolved with a meeting if one were to take place between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and King Salman bin Abdulaziz on the sidelines of the UAE National Day," the source said.
That meeting did not materialise. Shortly before the Saudi king arrived in the UAE on the first leg of his Gulf tour that will take him next to Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, Sisi left Abu Dhabi.
"There is a total Saudi rejection of any detente with the Egyptian administration, led by the Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman," the source added.
"Bin Salman demanded the islands agreement be implemented first before taking any move to correct relations between the two countries," continued the source.
"The young prince wanted to present himself in a certain way to Saudi society after securing the islands... [and] to take advantage of this to increase his popularity.”
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The Egyptian regime had deliberately tricked the Saudi king |  |
Bin Salman allegedly made another condition for detente was the dismissal of Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri "given his anti-Saudi positions", the source claimed without elaborating further.
The thinking in Riyadh is that the Egyptian regime had deliberately tricked Saudi King Salman with the Tiran and Sanafir affair - two Red Sea islands Sisi agreed to hand over to Saudi Arabia during the monarch's visit to Cairo in early April. Salman signed a number of agreements during this visit, including the ceding of the islands to Riyadh in return for Saudi aid.
The Saudi aid package allegedly included oil deliveries, direct investment, and deposits in the central bank to shore up Egypt's depleted currency reserves.
But Egypt froze the islands' handover process following angry protests and legal action taken by Egyptian oppositionists that led to a court order halting the agreement. The government has since appealed the order.
| Read more: The Saudi Egyptian divide runs deeper than Syria |
These developments were likely one of the reasons behind Saudi Arabia's decision to suspend oil deliveries via Aramco, which is dominated by the deputy crown prince, said the source.
He claimed the decision predated Egypt's decision to vote in favour of a Russian resolution on Syria at the UN Security Council.
At the time, the vote angered Saudi Arabia and further strained relations between the two countries.
After that, unspecified "leading Arab figures" tried to mediate between the two governments, but the attempts were stonewalled by the Saudi prince, the source claimed.
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The Saudi rebuffs seem to have angered the Egyptian regime | |
Semi-official backlash
The Saudi rebuffs seem to have angered the Egyptian regime.
"Egypt must not bow down to dictates by other Arab governments for the sake of aid," wrote Ibn al-Dawla ["Son of the State"] in his column this week in government-affiliated al-Yawm al-Sabei.
"Son of the State" is likely to be Lt. Ahmed Shaaban, General Abbas Kamel's chief of staff, a key figure in the Egyptian presidency.
The writer is thought to be the key figure behind the regime's media nexus, and wrote in what is probably a quasi-official reaction from the government.
"Egypt's positions are based on its vision, interests, national security and regional security. This position does not tolerate extortion. Current outcomes vindicate Egypt's attitude and vision in Syria and Libya," he wrote, in reference to the regime's support for Syria's Bashar al-Assad and controversial Libyan militia leader Khalifa Haftar.
"Egypt cannot trade its sovereignty for aid or loans… or change its positions under pressure. At the same time, Egypt is keen to have relations with all Arab countries and does not attempt to impose its views."