President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi congratulated his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for being re-elected on Sunday to lead his country for another six years.
Putin won with more than 76% of the vote and will now run the world’s largest country by area for a fourth term. Putin has ruled the country as either president or prime minister since 1999.
In his statement issued Monday, Al-Sisi wished Putin success in office and wished “the friendly Russian people” further progress and prosperity. He also praised the strategic relations between Egypt and Russia, as well as the two countries’ keenness to develop and strengthen them in the interest of the two nations.
Putin attended a large rally in Moscow after the announcement of the results to thank his supporters and answer questions.
Over the past four years, Egypt and Russia have cooperated in wide-ranging military and economic fields. In December, Putin visited Egypt and met with Al-Sisi, when they discussed and agreed on regional issues, including the conflicts in Libya and Syria, deliberated over a solution to the Israel-Palestine issue, and signed a deal for Egypt’s first nuclear power station, to be located in Dabaa on the country’s Mediterranean coast.
Similarly, Egypt is scheduled to witness a presidential election next week, in which only two candidates are on the ballot. Voting in the election for Egyptians abroad ended on Sunday and is due to continue at home from 26 to 28 March.
