Friend or foe? Egypt’s $5 Billion arms buildup and the question no one’s asking

An Egyptian army soldier looks on from his position at a checkpoint in Al Arish city, the troubled northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. Picture taken July 8, 2015. REUTERS/Stringer

Egypt has been engaged in one of the most aggressive military modernization and expansion programs in its history. Under President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s leadership, the Egyptian armed forces have been transformed into one of the world’s most formidable forces, with recent acquisitions including everything from aircraft carriers to advanced fighter jets, from German submarines to the latest American tanks.