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Egypt as a Target of Russia’s and China’s Information Operations
During the analyzed period (September–December 2024), the Egyptian information environment was marked by intense propaganda and disinformation activities by Russia, alongside a more subtle but consistent presence by China. These actions aimed to influence Egyptian public opinion, political elites, as well as regional and international audiences.
The main vector of influence was an attempt to portray Russia and China as stable partners promoting an alternative global order, opposing Western dominance, while simultaneously undermining the credibility and intentions of Western countries, including Poland, NATO, and the United States. The analysis demonstrates that Egypt represents a key arena for informational penetration by these powers due to its strategic location, economic significance, and regional position within MENA.
Information operations conducted by Russia and China in Egypt exploit existing tensions, economic and energy pressures, and the country’s limited media freedom to construct narratives favorable to Beijing and Moscow and detrimental to the image of the West, including Poland. Russian narratives aggressively undermine trust in NATO and EU countries, depicting them as aggressors and forces striving for hegemony. Chinese activities are subtler but reinforce this line of argumentation while simultaneously promoting economic alternatives and a multipolar order. Consequently, Egyptian society receives a distorted view of geopolitical reality, which may influence Cairo’s long-term strategic decisions.
To counteract this influence, Poland and Western countries must actively engage in public diplomacy, strengthen independent media, support information pluralism, and promote positive, fact-based narratives concerning economic, technological, and cultural cooperation. Without coordinated efforts, Russian and Chinese disinformation activities will continue to hinder effective collaboration with Egypt and the MENA region.
Directions and Narratives of Russian Influence Operations
Anti-Western and Anti-NATO Narratives:
Russia consistently promotes a narrative portraying NATO, the EU, and the USA as aggressors, destabilizers, and neo-imperial forces. Poland, as one of NATO’s key members and a neighboring country to Ukraine, frequently appears in Russian messaging as a purported initiator or beneficiary of a “plan” to divide Ukraine. Russian propaganda in Arabic-language Egyptian media (e.g., through Sputnik Arabic) has depicted Poland and Western countries as forces seeking to occupy Ukraine under the guise of a “peace mission,” aiming to solidify the belief that the West operates with double standards and pursues hidden imperial goals.
These anti-Western and anti-NATO narratives aim to erode Egyptian society’s trust in Western countries (the EU, the USA), organizations such as NATO, and their allies (including Poland). Russian propaganda portrays the West as aggressive and imperialist, imposing its will on other countries. In this framing, NATO is not a defensive alliance but a tool of political and military domination. In the Egyptian context, these narratives exploit the region’s sensitivity to Western interventions (e.g., the wars in Iraq, Libya, or Western support for Israel) and Egypt’s challenging economic and energy situation. They create an image of a world where Russia and China offer an alternative to the current “unjust” Western hegemony.
Anti-Western Exploitation of Anti-Israel Sentiments:
Given the importance of the Palestinian issue and the role of Israel in Middle Eastern narratives, Russian propaganda and its sympathetic sources in the region link criticism of the West with anti-Israel rhetoric. They construct an image of the West as a protector of Israel, which, in the eyes of many audiences in Egypt and the broader Arab world, reinforces the negative perception of NATO and the USA.
Poland and the Eastern Flank NATO Countries as “Tools” and “Puppets” of the West:
NATO is portrayed as an organization deliberately expanding eastward, threatening the security of other states. Alleged plans to deploy Western troops to Ukraine as “peacekeeping forces” are presented as a pretext for the de facto occupation of the country. Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states are depicted as extensions of U.S. and NATO policies, lacking autonomy, with the aim of weakening their image as independent political actors. This creates the impression that these countries are executing American ambitions, such as supposed plans to divide Ukraine, annex territories, or militarize the eastern border.
Demonizing Western Aid to Ukraine:
Military and financial aid to Ukraine is framed as a step toward integrating the country into Western structures to subordinate it to EU and U.S. interests. This narrative omits the actual reasons for the support (Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the desire to defend Ukrainian sovereignty) and instead emphasizes alleged plans for the “colonization” of Ukraine or the exploitation of its resources.
Exploiting Anti-Semitism and Conspiracy Theories:
Russian propagandists have spread false narratives about alleged mass immigration of Jews to Ukraine via Poland. The aim was to stir mistrust and animosity in Arab societies, which are sensitive to issues related to Palestine and Israel. In this way, Russia sought to link anti-Israeli rhetoric with anti-Western sentiment, reinforcing a negative image of Poland in the eyes of Egyptians as a co-conspirator in purported colonial or manipulative actions.
Creating a False Image of Russia as a Stable and Friendly Partner:
Russia positions itself as a reliable and friendly partner, contrasting its alleged stability and respect for sovereignty with the purported aggressiveness and double standards of the West. This narrative seeks to appeal to societies and governments in the region by promoting Russia as a counterbalance to Western “imperialism” and an advocate of a multipolar world order.
Building Russia’s Image as a Defender of a Multipolar Order:
Russian narratives emphasized cooperation with Egypt within the BRICS framework, with a focus on independence from the dollar and Western institutions. Russian diplomats and state media highlighted infrastructure projects, such as the Dabaa nuclear power plant, as evidence of the durability and benefits of the Moscow-Cairo partnership. Russian stories about collections of gifts for soldiers fighting in Ukraine, allegedly from various countries, including Poland, aimed to demonstrate international support for Russia. This messaging reinforced the narrative that, despite official criticism from the West, there is grassroots support for Russian policies, even in countries perceived as aligned with NATO.
Key Directions and Narratives of Chinese Information Operations:
China operates less confrontationally than Russia, focusing on economic, infrastructure, and technological aspects. At the same time, Beijing subtly supports Russia’s anti-Western and anti-NATO narratives to strengthen the image of cooperation with Russia in opposition to the West.
Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone):
China intensively promotes the fact that numerous Chinese companies are investing in SCZone, creating an alternative to Western investments and indirectly reducing Egypt’s dependence on the West. Chinese media and aligned information channels in Egypt emphasize the value of new projects and China’s growing role in modernizing Egypt’s economy. While Russia and China intentionally omit the negative geopolitical context, the Chinese also strive to position themselves as a partner capable of supporting Egypt’s energy transition, for example, through green energy projects and the development of modern technologies. This is intended to create the impression that China represents a viable alternative to Western solutions.
Chinese Support for Russian Narratives:
Strengthening Messaging About Alleged Threats From NATO Infrastructure in Poland:
China referenced Russian narratives by portraying the U.S. missile defense base in Poland as a strategic threat. This message was distributed through Chinese accounts on social media platforms popular in the Arab world, creating the impression of shared interests and perceptions of threats between Beijing and Moscow. While China does not openly side with Russia in the war in Ukraine, its discreet support for disinformation about NATO and the West’s aggressive intentions toward the region signals alignment with Moscow’s stance.
This allows China to present itself as a stabilizing actor, ready to act within BRICS to promote a new, multipolar order in which developing countries and regional powers (such as Egypt) will have greater significance.
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A public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the frame of “Public Diplomacy 2024-2025: The European Dimension and Countering Disinformation” contest
The publication expresses only the views of the author and cannot be identified with the official position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
