US Defense Head To Meet Egypt’s New Islamist Leader

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Cairo on Tuesday to meet Egypt’s new Islamist president and its top general, seeking to balance security concerns with efforts to promote the country’s still wobbly transition to democracy.

It will be Panetta’s first opportunity to speak with President Mohamed Morsi of the long-banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Political uncertainty is casting a shadow over Egypt’s future as the military and the Muslim Brotherhood engage in a power struggle over the future of a country that remains without a permanent constitution, parliament or government.

Panetta told reporters at the start of his week-long trip to North Africa and the Middle East that he would urge Egypt’s government “to provide for as broad a coalition as possible within the government”.

Morsi, the country’s first freely elected leader, has pledged to work for all Egyptians but critics point to a month-long delay in forming a government as early evidence that the leader is unwilling to espouse the kind of compromise that would bring political opponents into his cabinet.

Panetta also wants to bolster the U.S. commitment to a strong military relationship with Egypt in talks with Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of the military council that took over when Hosni Mubarak was ousted and that is vying for influence with Mursi.

Israel – Panetta’s next stop on his trip – is particularly worried about the rise of Islamists in place of ousted Arab autocrats, especially Mubarak, who guaranteed his country’s 1979 treaty with Israel, the first between Israel and an Arab country.

During a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Egypt in mid-July, Mursi issued assurances that Egypt would abide by its treaties.

Reuters