Russia in Talks with Egypt over Airbases Deal

Russia's government published a draft agreement between Russia and Egypt on Thursday allowing both countries to use each other's air space and air bases for their military planes.

The draft deal read, “On the signing of the agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt on the Procedure for the use of airspace and aerodrome infrastructure of the Russian Federation and the Arab Republic of Egypt”. 

The draft was set out in a decree, signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Nov. 28, which ordered the Russian Defence Ministry to hold negotiations with Egyptian officials and to sign the document once both sides reached an agreement.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Cairo for talks with Egypt's political and military leadership on Wednesday and the decree said the draft had been "preliminary worked through with the Egyptian side" and approved by Medvedev.

Russian and Egyptian war planes would be able to use each other's air space and airfields by giving five days advance notice, according to the draft agreement, which is expected to be valid for five years and could be extended.

The draft agreement has come months after US officials reportedly spotted Russian forces deployed at two Egyptian airbases bordering Libya.