Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Egypt has submitted a request for billions of dollars in additional aid from Saudi Arabia.

Diplomatic sources said the regime of President Abdul Fatah Sisi discussed a plan for Egypt to help bolster security of Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies. They said Sisi, who met Saudi King Abdullah, sought in return billions of dollars for Egypt’s military and defense industry sector.

“The Egyptian plan was high on the agenda of Sisi’s visit,” a source said.

On Aug. 10, Sisi met the Saudi king during the president’s visit to Jedda. Few details were released, but officials said Abdullah and Sisi focused on security cooperation.

“Whatever concerns Egypt is of concern to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Saudi National Guard Minister Prince Mitab, the king’s son, said.

The sources said Abdullah and Sisi discussed Egyptian operations to help Riyad counter Iranian influence in the Gulf. They said the two men envisioned that Egypt and Saudi Arabia would lead an Arab strategy against Teheran and its proxies.

“The talks also reviewed the developments in Iraq and the impact of terrorist operations on the country and the region,” Egyptian presidential spokesman Ihab Badawi said.

During Sisi’s visit, Saudi Arabia briefed the United Arab Emirates on Egypt’s plan. The UAE sent Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for a late-night meeting in Jedda with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud Al Faisal.

So far, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have relayed some $20 billion in aid to Egypt. The assistance was said to have helped Egypt purchase naval vessels from Europe and air defense systems from Russia. On Aug. 12, Sisi was scheduled to fly to Russia and meet President Vladimir Putin.

“The challenges facing the Arab national security will top the agenda of the summit talks in Jedda,” Egypt’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Afifi Abdul Wahab, said before Sisi’s arrival.

  Abdul Fatah Sisi, cooperation on securing Gulf Arab states, Egypt-Saudis talks address billions in military aid, King Abdullah, Prince Mitab