Egypt: Finance Minister Highlights Boosting Cooperation Across Continents to Face COVID-19

Egypt's Finance Minister Mohamed Maait (Reuters)
Egypt's Finance Minister Mohamed Maait (Reuters)
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Egypt: Finance Minister Highlights Boosting Cooperation Across Continents to Face COVID-19

Egypt's Finance Minister Mohamed Maait (Reuters)
Egypt's Finance Minister Mohamed Maait (Reuters)

African continental cooperation must be enhanced to counter COVID-19’s consequences on African countries’ economies, and contain the negative impact of the crisis, announced Egypt’s Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait.

Maait was speaking during a videoconference held on Monday with the members of the Committee of 15 Ministers of Finance (F15) to discuss COVID-19’s repercussions.

The videoconference included: Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Vera Songwe, Commissioner for Economic Affairs of the African Union Victor Harrison, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union Amira el-Fadil, and Director of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention John Nkengasong.

The Finance Ministry issued a statement indicating that the meeting addressed the health, social, economic, and financial measures that member states have adopted to contain COVID-19.

The attendees also discussed the African strategy to contain and alleviate the economic impact of coronavirus and to take a united African stance in this regard at global gatherings, namely the spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund scheduled to be held soon.

The meeting reviewed the required operational steps for activating resolutions issued by the African Union’s General Assembly Bureau to set an African fund for countering the pandemic’s harsh impacts.

The attendees agreed to convene periodically through teleconference to discuss anti-COVID-19 measures.

Meanwhile, Minister of Planning Hala al-Saeed announced that Egypt has developed several scenarios for how the crisis will pan out and others for the economy’s recovery when the virus spread has subsided.

The first scenario assumes that the crisis will end by June, while a second scenario assumes that the crisis will end by September. A final scenario predicts the crisis will come to an end at the end of this year.

Saeed believes Egypt will have positive growth rates in H2 of 2020, despite the negative outlook for other countries.

She pointed out that the issue of "globalization" will diminish and that countries will tend to follow a self-reliance policy, as imports have decreased. She pointed out that China is one of the first countries emerging from the crisis, and Beijing is expected to lead the economic growth.



Türkiye Intensifies Steps to Establish Air Base East of Homs

Turkish-made Hisar air defense system (Turkish Defense Industries website). 
Turkish-made Hisar air defense system (Turkish Defense Industries website). 
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Türkiye Intensifies Steps to Establish Air Base East of Homs

Turkish-made Hisar air defense system (Turkish Defense Industries website). 
Turkish-made Hisar air defense system (Turkish Defense Industries website). 

Türkiye is accelerating preparations to establish an airbase in the city of Palmyra, east of Homs, following an announcement by its Ministry of Defense last week that it is considering a request from the Syrian administration in Damascus to set up a base for training purposes.

Reports indicate that Turkish military convoys carrying equipment entered northern Syria overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, likely transporting logistical supplies and gear to the “T4” airbase in Palmyra.

The pro-government Turkish newspaper “Türkiye” reported on Wednesday that the country has taken official steps to take control of the Tiyas Military Airbase—also known as Tiyas Airport, T4 Airbase —located near the village of Tiyas, about 60 kilometers east of Palmyra in Homs province.

According to the report, Türkiye plans to establish a multi-layered air defense system at the base, incorporating domestically produced weapons. Additionally, Ankara intends to deploy reconnaissance drones and armed UAVs with advanced strike capabilities. The goal is to enhance the country’s counterterrorism efforts against ISIS while also deterring potential Israeli airstrikes in the region.

Some sources suggest that Türkiye may also consider deploying the Russian S-400 air defense system, which it acquired in the summer of 2019.

Retired Turkish Brigadier General Fahri Erenel stated that Ankara plans to take significant steps in Syria in April. He mentioned that after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a defense agreement was negotiated with the Syrian interim government. Under this agreement, Türkiye would provide air support and military protection to the new Syrian administration.

Israeli Concerns

Israel is deeply concerned about Türkiye’s growing cooperation with Damascus and its efforts to expand its military presence in Syria.

An Israeli security official, speaking to The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, described the potential establishment of a Turkish military base in Syria as a “possible threat” to Israel. The official, whose name was not disclosed, warned that a Turkish airbase in Syria would undermine Israel’s operational freedom and was therefore something Tel Aviv opposed.

On Friday, the Israeli military announced that it had targeted what it described as “strategic military capabilities” at Syrian army bases in Palmyra and the T4 airbase. The Israeli official indicated that the strike on T4 was a message that Israel would not tolerate any obstacles to its air operations in Syria.