According to reports by the Washington Post using a stolen US intelligence document, a senior Egyptian official denied that Egypt’s military had any plans to build 40,000 missiles for Russia, according to state-affiliated media.
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the president of Egypt, reportedly gave officials orders to keep manufacturing and shipping secret “to prevent difficulties with the West,” according to a leaked US intelligence document acquired by the Washington Post.
According to the Washington Post, the “top secret document” from February claims conversations between Sisi and senior Egyptian military officials about plans to supply Russia with artillery and ammunition while keeping the preparations a secret.
CNN has not seen the document cited by the Washington Post and is unable to confirm its authenticity.
The Egyptian official, unnamed by state-affiliated media, called the Washington Post report “informational absurdity” and said that Egypt follows a “balanced policy” with all international parties, Al Qahera News, a state-affiliated media outlet said. The statement was carried by several Egyptian state-affiliated news outlets.
Egypt is one of the world’s top recipients of US military aid, receiving $1.3 billion in military financing annually.
The White House also said it has no indication Egypt is providing Russia with deadly arms.
John Kirby, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, told reporters aboard Air Force One “we’ve seen no indication that Egypt is providing lethal weaponry capabilities to Russia.”
Kirby said Egypt remained “a significant security partner” and would remain so.
“The United States military has a longstanding defense relationship with Egypt that goes back many, many years,” he said.
Russia’s Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the information “another hoax.”
“It looks like another hoax, of which there are plenty now. This is how you should treat such publications,” Peskov said in response to a question from a reporter on the report.
CNN reached out to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry for comment.
Highly classified Pentagon documents leaked online in recent weeks have provided a rare window into how the US spies on allies and foes alike, deeply rattling US officials, who fear the revelations could jeopardize sensitive sources and compromise important foreign relationships.
Many of the documents, which US officials say are authentic, had markings indicating that they had been produced by the Joint Staff’s intelligence arm, known as J2, and appear to be briefing documents.
Egypt has publicly voiced muted opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It has supported United Nations resolutions condemning the war, including a call in February that Moscow “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine and called for a cessation of hostilities.”
The country’s economy has been damaged by the conflict, with Egypt relying heavily on grain exports from the two countries.