Egypt and Saudi Arabia halt cooperation agreements

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have halted or delayed the implementation of a majority of the agreements signed between the two countries, Lebanon’s Al-Khabar has reported.

Citing a diplomatic source, the newspaper said that apart from agreements signed with Cairo’s Al-Azhar University, a majority of investments supported by figures associated with Saudi Defence Minister Mohammed Bin Salman have been completely halted after Saudi Aramco stopped supplying oil to Egypt.

“The visit of the Saudi ambassador to Al-Azhar does not have any political dimensions,” the source said, “since Al-Azhar is treated separately from the Egyptian state institutions.” Pressure from the Saudis will not change Egypt’s position, either with regards to the Syrian crisis or the crisis in Yemen, he added. Cairo will keep in touch with all parties, without exception.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed 17 agreements and memorandums of understanding in April, covering several areas including electricity, housing, nuclear energy, agriculture, trade and industry.