President Donald Trump dispatched a senior U.S. military delegation to Cairo in an effort to stop Egypt from finalizing a major arms deal with China for the advanced J-20 stealth fighter jet, according to Western intelligence sources.
The move reflects Washington’s growing unease over Cairo’s military closeness with Beijing, as Egypt has been negotiating not only to purchase the aircraft but also to assemble and maintain them locally.
While U.S.-Egypt relations under Trump have been relatively calm compared to past tensions, the delegation reportedly warned Egyptian officials that moving forward with the deal could trigger severe economic and trade sanctions, including suspension of American military aid.
Beijing, which once hesitated to export its fifth-generation fighter, has recently shown greater openness, particularly following joint military drills where Egyptian pilots flew Chinese jets.