Netanyahu Warns of Egypt's Growing Military Capabilities
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
Netanyahu’s warning about Egypt’s rising military power points to a stark reality: Cairo’s expanding presence in Somalia and the Sinai Peninsula threatens Israeli security. Egypt is building offensive infrastructure — including extended runways and underground missile facilities — in treaty-restricted areas and deploying thousands of troops to Somalia to counter Israeli influence in the Horn of Africa. This escalation demands U.S. intervention to protect Israel’s strategic position near the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Anti-Israel narrative
Netanyahu’s claims about Egypt’s military buildup are a distraction from his own failures. Egypt’s measured modernization reflects legitimate security needs, not aggression: Cairo reinforced Sinai forces to prevent forced Palestinian displacement from Gaza and diversified arms suppliers after Washington blocked aircraft returns in 2013. Egypt honors its peace treaty commitments, while Netanyahu recycles baseless allegations to justify Israeli dominance over a neighbor pursuing normal defense development.
