Over the past three decades, Egypt has undergone a massive military buildup and modernization. The overhaul of Egypt’s navy, coupled with its geographic location, gives the Egyptian fleet the capability to “blockade both of Israel’s sea links with the outside world,” according to a recent report.

The report, which appeared in the March edition of the Middle East Review of International Affairs, states that U.S. administrations have given $1.3 billion in annual military aid to Egypt during President Hosni Mubarak’s regime. Egypt has used the money to transform its Soviet-based fighting force into a modernized, Western-style military. Earlier this decade, Egypt replaced Saudi Arabia as the primary recipient of U.S.-manufactured arms in the Middle East.

As a result, Egypt’s arsenal has improved qualitatively as well as quantitatively in every military branch. Israeli Knesset member Yuval Steinitz and former commander in chief of the Israeli Navy, Maj. Gen. Yedidia Ya’ari, “consider the overhaul of the Egyptian Navy to be the most significant aspect of the military’s modernization program,” the report said.

The Egyptians acquired two Knox-class frigates and four Oliver Hazard Perry frigates from the United States in the 19902. These frigates are capable of over-the-horizon combat and anti-submarine warfare.

But what perhaps pose the greatest threat to Israel are the 53-satellite guided Harpoon Block ii missiles the U.S. agreed to sell to Egypt in November 2001. These missiles “can exploit Israel’s lack of strategic depth by evading its current air defense systems” and have “truly caused consternation in Jerusalem” (ibid.).

The modernization of Egypt’s military also includes the acquisition of M1A1 Abrams battle tanks, F-16 fighter planes, Apache attack helicopters and the ammunition to arm their new equipment to the teeth.

The report questions why Egypt would invest so many billions in its military. Some analysts believe Egypt’s goal is to achieve military parity with Israel. Mubarak stated in a 1995 speech that the level of its armed forces serves as a deterrent. However, with Islamists gaining in popularity and Mubarak nearing the end of his reign, what does the future hold? The report says “a drastic change in leadership could spawn greater instability in the Egyptian-Israeli arena” and that “Egypt’s failure to curtail endemic weapons smuggling on the Egypt-Gaza border—arms which are funneled to Palestinian terrorists—has fueled speculation among Israeli hardliners that Cairo may be girding for war.”

Bible prophecy can clear up any speculation. Egypt is prophesied to ally itself with Iran, indicating that radical changes are in store for the Egyptian government. To find out more about Egypt in prophecy, read The King of the South.