Egypt is a beautiful and culturally diverse nation located in North Africa, while Saudi Arabia is a large country in the Middle East. The two countries have a long-standing relationship of friendship and cooperation; yet, their borders to each other are not well-defined. This article aims to answer the question: “Does Egypt border Saudi Arabia?
History and Relations
Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been close allies since the late twentieth century, when oil was discovered in both countries. Both nations soon established a strong political and economic relationship, striving for mutual benefit. They also created many programs to benefit both sides, such as the Suez-Red Sea Project and Sinai Canal.
The two countries have been strongly interdependent since the Cold War era. Both have worked together to promote Arab interests on the international stage, especially concerning war in the Middle East. It’s clear that both countries have a strong relationship, as evidenced by their ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Geography and Borders
The border between Egypt and Saudi Arabia does not have a formal delineation, though there are definite geographic regions which belong to one or the other nation. Egypt has a western boundary that includes parts of the Red Sea and the Sinai Peninsula, while the eastern boundary is a region of the Gulf of Aqaba. Saudi Arabia’s border to the east is the Gulf of Aqaba and the Southwestern Arabian Desert. The north-south border between the two countries is anecdotally defined as a loose line bisecting the Sinai Peninsula. The lack of a formal demarcation along the Egypt-Saudi Arabia border makes it unclear as to whether these two countries actually “meet”, or lay adjacent to, each other.
Transportation and Trade
Despite the undelineated border, both countries still maintain an open transportation and trade relationship. This is maintained mainly through air travel, as well as overland transport through the Sinai Peninsula. Additionally, there is more and more economic interdependence between the two countries, particularly through investments in oil drilling, gas, and petrochemical facilities. Some of the larger oil and gas firms in the region have offices in both countries and use the open border to travel easily between the two.
Security Cooperation
Egypt and Saudi Arabia also have their own joint security agreements. The Egyptian-Saudi security coalition works together to protect the borders of each country as well as to ensure a peaceful environment in the Middle East. This includes mutual agreements to block any potentially dangerous group from entering either nation. Additionally, the peace-keeping forces of both countries work together regularly in their common border region.
Opinion and Analysis
Egypt and Saudi Arabia are two powerful and influential countries in the Middle East region. Their shared border is not officially defined, but both countries still maintain strong economic, transport, and security relations. Their partnership is a testament to the importance of building strong ties between countries.
Border Disputes
Although there has generally been no dispute over the boundary between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the lack of a formal demarcation has led to some minor disputes. These disputes have mainly involved fishing in the Gulf of Aqaba, and natural resources. Despite these occasional issues, the two countries are still considered strong allies and continue to mutual efforts to overcome their differences.
Constraints and Obstacles
Despite the strong relationship between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, certain issues continue to be a constraint on close cooperation. These include religious differences, economic disparity between the two countries, and political disagreement on certain salient issues in the region such as the Israel-Palestine conflict. Nevertheless, both nations are dedicated to maintaining the cordial relations they have built over the years.
Political Cooperation
Both countries have adopted a strategy of cooperation on political issues, both in the context of regional peace and security. Egypt and Saudi Arabia insist on defending the Arab culture, nationhood, and interest of Arab countries. The two nations have also expressed support for each other’s policies in the field of foreign relations. For example, Egypt supported Saudi Arabia’s proposal to establish an international coalition against terrorism.
Territorial Disputes
The lack of a formal demarcation along the border between Egypt and Saudi Arabia has led to some minor territorial disputes. For example, both countries have claimed the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir since the beginning of the 20th century. Although both countries agree that the two islands should be shared, a definitive agreement has yet to be reached.
Conclusion
The relationship between Egypt and Saudi Arabia is long-standing and strong. Although there were times of political disagreement and tension in the past, the countries have maintained a strong bond of friendship and cooperation. The two countries share an informal border, and both engage in economic, political, and security cooperation across it. While there are still some minor disagreements that remain, the relationship between Egypt and Saudi Arabia remains strong and unifying.
