After years of ostracism in the Arab world because of its peace treaty with Israel, Egypt has once again assumed a prominent role in Arab affairs and is making a bid for Middle East leadership. For the United States, this quest for leadership raises many questions regarding one of our closest allies on the region and the second—largest recipient of our foreign aid. Aftandilian, an expert on the Middle East, addresses questions about the impact of Egypt’s quest on its policy toward its Arab neighbors, the Arab—Israeli peace process, and bilateral U.S.—Egyptian relations. He examines the new Arab regional order created by recent events in the region, including the Gulf War, and explores how Egypt has advanced its interests in this new order. He also discusses the impact of internal economic and political developments on Cairo’s foreign policy and concludes with an assessment of future U.S.—Egyptian relations. Read Less