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U.S. ally looks to buy Chinese J-35 stealth jets
As it seeks to upgrade aging F-16s, Egypt is edging closer to China in a broader military realignment.

5.28.25
Egypt, traditionally a U.S. ally, could be seeking to acquire Chinese J-35 fighter jets, according to aviation and defense outlets. The J-35 fighter jet, modeled after the American F-35, is gaining more appeal as China, competing with the U.S., seeks to expand its influence in South Asia, the Middle East and the broader Arab region. Egyptian Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Abdel Gawad has reportedly shown interest in China's J-35 stealth fighter, according to the Belgian-based Army Recognition Group, which specializes in military analysis. Egypt's push to modernize its aging F-16 fleet is constrained by financial hurdles and further complicated by restrictive terms attached to Western weapon systems.
Retired Egyptian army officer Sayed Ghoneim said of possible moves to acquire J-35s: "This could reduce the share of American weaponry in the Egyptian military—a shift that might ripple across other markets in the region and beyond, as Egypt is considered a key reference point for countries assessing the quality of global weapons systems. This was evident with Egypt's acquisition of the French Rafale, and especially in light of its openness to importing arms from other countries such as South Korea and Germany, as well as purchasing components from various other sources." Egypt's prime minister said China's President Xi Jinping is expected to visit his country, describing this as "a turning point" for stronger cooperation amid global and regional instability—though no dates were officially announced.
Foreign governments no longer fully trust the Trump administration due to factors such as Trump having expansionist designs on Greeenland and Panama, the on-again off-again Trump tariffs, and Trump not fully backing Ukraine against Russian aggressibn.