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Updated October 2007
Chemical Chronology
1990-1994
23 January 1990
Egypt participates in national trial inspections as a part of the conference of disarmament's preparation for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). It is the only Middle Eastern state, other than Iran, to do so.
— Thomas A. Stock, SIPRI Yearbook 1992: World Armaments and Disarmament, Appendix 6A.
August 1990
Fearing an Iraqi chemical attack, Saudi Arabia requests Egyptian assistance. In response Egypt deploys several hundred troops trained in nuclear-biological-chemical defense. The contribution includes commandos, paratroopers, chemical-warfare specialists, and infantrymen, all of whom have been equipped with gas masks. Though Egypt's relationship with chemical weapons is quite extensive, Saudi praise of Egypt's "experience" in this field is understandably minimized. Egypt is suspected of stockpiling mustard agents and the nerve agents, tabun and sarin.
— Michael Theodoulou, "Egyptian Army to Form Pan-Arab Force Spearhead," The Times, 13 August 1990; Carol Berger, "Crisis in the Gulf: Egypt's 'Chemical Expertise' an Asset," The Independent, 14 August 1990; Carol Berger, "Crisis in the Gulf: Mecca and Money Compete to Lure Egypt's Volunteers," The Independent, 15 August 1990; "Egypt Ponders Future," Africa News, 21 January 1991.
December 1990/January 1991
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is expected to play a leading role towards regional weapons of mass destruction disarmament, which has gained momentum given Iraq's endorsement of Egypt's 1990 regional nuclear disarmament plan. Mubarak's goals are to establish two parallel commissions on nuclear and chemical disarmament to address Israel's and Iraq's non-conventional arms, which are thought to include chemical weapons capabilities. This marks the first time Egypt has acceded to discussion severing chemical weapons from nuclear issues in the region.
— Yoram Nimrod, "A Nuclear-Free Middle East?" The Jerusalem Report, 6 December 1990; Ze'ev Schiff, "Is Arms Control Possible," The Jerusalem Report, 17 January 1991.
December 1990
William Quandt of the Brookings Institution says Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons can be countered by Israel, Egypt, Syria, and Iran, all of which have chemical weapons.
— Steven V. Roberts, Stephen Budiansky, Kenneth T. Walsh, Bruce B. Auster, and Carla Anne Robbins, "Raising the Stakes," US News & World Report, Vol. 109, No. 24, p. 44, 17 December 1990.
January 1991
Egypt is noted as one of 12 countries outside NATO and the Warsaw Pact that have chemical weapons and is suspected of sharing the technology with Iraq.
— James Adams, "The Chemical Nightmare," Sunday Times of London, 27 January 1991.
July 1991
Prior to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, Saddam Hussein formed an economic body called the Arab Cooperation Council, which in addition to Iraq included Egypt, Jordan, and North Yemen. During Baghdad's attempt to transform this group into a military organization, Egypt is believed to have shared rudimentary chemical weapons technology with Baghdad.
— Alan Cowell, "Egypt's Arms Control Plan for Region," New York Times, 5 July 1991.
July 1991
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak still maintains an interest in regional weapons of mass destruction disarmament and continues to air concerns over Israel's and Iraq's respective arsenals.
— Jeffery Phillips, "Warnings of a Disaster," The Jerusalem Report, 25 July 1991.
Winter 1991
Several countries suspected of developing ballistic missile systems also allegedly possess chemical warfare ability, including Egypt.
— Thomas Mahnken, "The Arrow and the Shield: US Responses to Ballistic Missile Proliferation," The Washington Quarterly, Winter 1991.
October 1991
In April 1990, Egypt proposed that nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons be prohibited in the Middle East and that all states make "equal and reciprocal commitments" to declare the Middle East free of WMD and ban future WMD-related projects. Egypt's concern continues to be Israel.
— Jeffery Phillips, "The Voice of Experience," The Jerusalem Report, 31 October 1991.
January 1993
Egyptian Information Minister Safwat El-Sherif announces his governments refusal to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) "until arms curbs are introduced in the Middle East on a balanced basis and without exception, particularly in light of Israel's nuclear armament," according to Egyptian Information Minister Safwat El-Sherif.
— "Mubarak Regrets Use of Force," Al Ahram Weekly, 14 January 1993.
February 1993
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service presents findings that 16 countries possess or are close to possessing nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. The list included Egypt, which according to the report is capable of producing nerve agents and other "poison gases."
— Baniel Sneider, "Former KGB Details Nuclear Arms Spread," Christian Science Monitor, 1 February 1993.
February 1993
The Egyptian Pavilion debuts sophisticated military equipment including "anti-poison gas" protection gear and systems for purging effects of chemical weapons at the Abu Dhabi Defence Equipment Exhibition in United Arab Emirates.
— "Egyptian Pavilion in UAE Defence Equipment Exhibition," Middle East Observer, 24 February 1993.
April 1993
Using local and imported raw materials, Egypt can allegedly produce certain types of chemical weapons including nerve and blister agents. Though Egypt does not maintain enough chemical agent stocks for "broad-based operations," it has the capability of engaging in a rapid development program if needed.
— "Country Reports: Egypt," Middle East Defense News, Vol. 6, No. 13, 5 April 1993.
June 1993
Egypt is suspected of passing chemical warfare defense equipment and parts for ground-to-ground missiles (imported from Britain) to Iraq as far back as 1984.
— Richard Norton-Taylor, "Chemical Warfare Equipment Sold by MOD 'Likely to Have Gone to Iraq'," The Guardian (London), 22 June 1993.
September 1993
A British inquiry has indicated that in September 1986, the United Kingdom sanctioned the export of 26 tons of hydrogen fluoride to Egypt. The export was undertaken despite Israeli intelligence claims that the material was eventually being diverted to Iraq's CW program. Timothy Renton, the British Foreign Office Minister from 1985-87, initially objected to the sale but was weakened by Israel's unwillingness to provide collateral evidence of the diversion and by an earlier British sale of 60 tons of the same material to Egypt. He relented when British Trade Minister Alan Clark claimed the chemicals could just as easily be used for legitimate purposes. The claim was naturally supported by Egyptian officials, and Foreign Minister Renton communicated to the Egyptians that the shipments not be diverted to another state or be used in warfare.
— Richard Noton-Taylor, "Nerve Gas Sale Allowed by Foreign Officer," The Guardian (London), 21 September 1993; James Mckillop, "Inquiry Told of Fears on Nerve Gas Shipment," The Herald (Glasgow), 21 September 1993; David Connett, "Ministers permitted Export of Nerve Gas; Scott Inquiry Told of Shipment of Chemicals, to Egypt, Despite Warning that it Could Reach Iraq," The Independent, 21 September 1993.
November 1993
Egypt appears to be interested in purchasing chemical weapons-detection equipment from Slovakia, according to the Slovak Defense Ministry.
— "Czech Arms; Buyers Please," The Economist, 6 November 1993, p. 90 (UK edition, p. 106).
September 1994
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Musa states that Egypt will not sign the "Chemical Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty" until all Middle Eastern countries do so.
— "Egypt Says No to CWNPT," Jane's Defense Weekly, Vol. 22, No. 10., 10 September 1994, p. 15.
October 1994
Egypt allegedly maintains a stockpile of mustard and nerve agents but no longer produces any, demonstrating a slow-down of Egypt's chemical weapons effort. In terms of chemical weapons defense, Egypt has taken advantage of Soviet technology for personal protective gear and decontamination devices and Western technology such as the Fuchs NBC reconnaissance vehicle. Egypt's military industrial complex includes Abu Za'abal and Kata factories for the production of powders, rocket propellants, primer caps, and small arms ammunition.
— Andrew Rathmell, "Egypt's Military-Industrial Complex," Jane's Intelligence Review, Vol. 10, No. 6, 1 October 1994, p. 455.
November 1994
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak favorably views a proposal forwarded by Greek National Defense Minister Yerasimos Arsenis calling for a "nuclear-free and chemical weapons-free zone" in the broader area of the eastern Mediterranean.
— "Defense Minister Discusses Military Agreement in Cairo," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 5 November 1994.
November 1994
During a recent European trip, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak states that Egypt will not support a ban on chemical weapons until Israel signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
— "Egypt's Westward Move: Why? Why Not South? And Why Is The U.S. So Mad About It?" Mideast Mirror, Vol. 8, No. 232, 30 November 1994.
December 1994
Egypt is thought to be among several Arab states possessing chemical and/or biological capabilities.
— Ronald Mason, "Buying Time to Face New Weapons Arms-Control Efforts in the Gulf May Fall on Stony Ground," International Defense Review, Vol. 27, No. 12, 1 December 1994, p. 33.
December 1994
CIA officials visit Egypt, unannounced, to discuss suspected Egyptian-Libyan cooperation regarding chemical weapons production. The fundamentalist Egyptian newspaper al-Shaab reported that Egyptian officials denied the allegations, challenging CIA Director James Woolsey to provide the names of the "hundreds" of former Iraqi chemical weapons experts now suspected of working in Egypt. Also, Egypt is attempting to have Arab countries repeal ratification of the NPT and discouraging signature of the chemical weapons ban until Israel "accepts international inspection of its nuclear facilities."
— "CIA Said Irked by Alleged Egyptian-Libyan Chemical Connection," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 13 December 1994.
December 1994
Osama al-Baz, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's top political advisor, states to an audience at Cairo University that "Egypt does not accept military superiority for any state in the region and demands the elimination of chemical and nuclear weapons, all weapons of mass destruction from the Middle East, as well as a reduction in traditional weapons...It is inconceivable for Egypt and the Arab states to sign treaties for the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction when Israel continues to refuse to sign the nuclear NPT, subject its nuclear installations to international inspection and get rid of its nuclear stockpile."
— "Weizman in Cairo: 242 Applies to Jerusalem," Mideast Mirror, 21 December 1994.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
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