The Egyptian civilization is one of the greatest and oldest in the world. For thousands of years, the country has kept its geographical configuration and developed a strong sense of national identity. The county is mentioned in the holy books of all three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). Because of its strategic location, it connects Africa, Asia, and Europe. It has always had the Arab world's largest population. Historically, it has used soft power to dominate the Arab world and the majority of the Middle East. For generations, Egyptian culture (music, television, films, art, sport, and education) has shaped Arab society.

Given all these characteristics, Cairo has always been at the epicentre of Arab/Middle Eastern policy. With justification, Egyptians regard themselves as regional leaders and are widely regarded as such by their neighbours. Egypt has the largest army in the Arab world. Unsurprisingly, military and political analysts are eager to know Cairo's position on all regional conflicts (Libya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, war on terrorism). The Egyptian army fought Israel four times (1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973), and former President Anwar El-Sadat was the first Arab leader to reach out and sign a peace treaty with Israel.

Despite these formidable credentials, Egypt's strategic leverage has eroded over the last few decades. Neighbouring states have contested the nation's hard and soft power. Cairo has been unable to bring the civil war in neighbouring Libya to a successful conclusion despite political and military intervention. Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Russia, France, and Italy vie for influence in Libya alongside Egypt. It is unclear who has the upper hand in this rivalry. Similarly, other regional and global powers have played a more decisive role than Egypt in Syria and Iraq. President Al-Sisi chose not to take an active role in the Yemen war for good reasons. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran all back opposing factions, and Cairo thus has little, if any, say in any future political settlement. Finally, the Egyptian cultural hegemony is called into question. Egyptian films and soap operas are up against stiff competition from productions in Lebanon, Turkey, and other Middle Eastern countries.