Egypt in $3Bn Arms Deal with Russia as Putin Backs Al-Sisi for President

Egypt and Russia are said to have agreed on a $3b arms deal, in a direct snub to the US, even as President Vladimir Putin endorsed Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's presidential bid during the latter's visit to Moscow.

The move is bound to irk Washington which is the primary arms supplier of the Egyptian military as the likely new regime in Egypt leans towards Moscow.

According to the deal either initiated or signed by Egypt and Russia, contracts for the delivery of MiG-29 M/M2, Fulcrum fighter aircraft, Mi-35 helicopters, air defence complexes and light weapons have been sealed, reports Russia's Vedomosti daily, citing two independent sources from Moscow's defence industry.

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