Russia-Egypt relations (21st Century Crisis)

Russia-Egypt relations (Russian: Отношения Россия-Египет Otnosheniya Rossiya-Yegipet, Arabic: العلاقات الروسية المصرية) refer to the bilateral relations between the United Russian Republics and the Arab Republic of Egypt. Currently, Egypt and Russia are political, military and to a certain extent, economic allies, as Russia considers Egypt one of its most important allies in Africa. During the Arab Spring, Egypt was one of the many countries whose established government Russia helped stay in power, Russia backed Egyptian government forces in weeding out protestors and crushing the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Beginning with this, after decades-worth of political seperation, Egypt once-more, entered Russia's sphere of influence. Russian president Vladimir Putin has considered Hosni Mubarak an important ally, and a key leader to bringing peace and stability in Africa and the Middle East. Egyptian and Russian forces often conduct joint-drills, and the two military conduct peacekeeping operations everywhere in Africa. The Egyptian government currently gives the Russian Navy access to its northern ports, where Russian tourists often go for touring purposes. On a religious level, Russian Orthodox clergy also visit northern Egypt, home a large Greek Orthodox population, to conduct spiritual operations with the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria.