No, don’t drag us into this: A defense analyst told semiofficial Russian media outlet Sputnik that the “closer relations” between Russia and Egypt show that both nations are “‘committed to counter’ the policies which Washington and Riyadh pursue in the Middle East.” The story also quotes a separate unnamed, Egypt-based expert as saying Egypt and Russia are committed to fighting extremism and are acutely aware of the threat presented by militants returning from Iraq and Syria.