Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — Russia has pledged to accelerate military deliveries to Egypt.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Kremlin would ensure that Egypt would soon receive billions of dollars worth of Russian weapons.

Putin, in a meeting with President Abdul Fatah Sisi, said the deliveries have already begun.

“We are delivering weapons to Egypt,” Putin said. “We are ready to expand this cooperation.”

On Aug. 12, Putin and Sisi held their first summit since the latter was elected Egypt’s president in May 2014. In March, Cairo and Moscow signed a military protocol that envisioned the sale of $3 billion worth of attack helicopters, fighter-jets, air defense batteries and other platforms to Egypt.

“We are actively developing our military and technological cooperation,” Putin said.

Sisi arrived in Russia after a meeting with Saudi King Abdullah in Jedda on Aug. 10. Saudi Arabia has been the leading financier of Egypt’s defense and energy purchases over the last year.

Officials did not provide details of Russian arms shipments to Egypt. They said Egypt was particularly interested in Russian surface-to-air missiles as well as coproduction and technology transfer.

“All the people of Egypt are closely watching my visit and expecting a high level of cooperation between our states,” Sisi said. “I expect that we will meet their expectations.”

  Abdul Fatah Sisi, Putin assures Egypt’s Sisi that Moscow ‘ready to expand cooperation’, Vladimir Putin