Ahmed Al-Sharqawi writes: “Take Care of Egypt”.. President El-Sisi’s Messages to Protect the Nation and the Battle for Awareness

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s speech during the 44th Cultural Seminar of the Armed Forces, titled “A Nation of Heroes,” was not merely a recollection of the memories of the glorious October victories. Rather, it carried political and national messages that went beyond the occasion itself, raising fundamental questions about how to protect the state, preserve society’s awareness, confront economic and regional challenges, and build a future worthy of the sacrifices of Egyptians.

In my view, the most prominent message conveyed by the speech was the affirmation that the battles of nations do not end when wars end, and that preserving the state cannot be achieved through military power alone, regardless of how important it may be. It requires a society that possesses awareness, institutions that effectively fulfill their responsibilities, an economy capable of production, and a national will that transforms challenges into opportunities.

From this perspective, recalling the October experience gains an importance that goes beyond celebrating the anniversary of the victory. This experience provides a model of how planning, determination, preparedness, and unity of purpose can come together to achieve a historic accomplishment. It also confirms that national memory is not merely a record of past events, but a source of lessons that new generations need in dealing with the challenges of the present and shaping the future.

The importance of this message increases in an era in which information has become an influential weapon in shaping public opinion, and rumors have become capable of spreading within minutes, potentially causing concern, weakening trust, and distorting facts. Therefore, national awareness is no longer an intellectual luxury, but a necessity for protecting society from misinformation. This requires verifying information, distinguishing responsible criticism from attempts to spread chaos, and strengthening the role of professional media and educational and cultural institutions in building a mind capable of understanding and analysis.

However, responsibility for protecting awareness does not fall on citizens alone. Effective confrontation of rumors also requires the rapid availability of information, transparency in dealing with public issues, and providing clear answers to society’s questions. The more reliable information is available, the smaller the spaces in which false news and misleading interpretations can operate.

From this standpoint, the president’s call to protect the state carries a meaning broader than simply rallying around national slogans. It places shared responsibility at the forefront and confirms that Egypt’s strength is reinforced when every individual understands his or her role, whether through work and production, respect for the law, positive participation, or safeguarding the public interest.

The president recalled important moments from Egypt’s history, linking the October 1973 War with the challenges faced by the state in 2013, in reference to the importance of preserving state institutions and their national identity. This comparison confirms that the stability of states is not something permanently guaranteed, but rather requires societal awareness and institutional capacity to confront crises, while benefiting from the lessons of history to avoid repeating mistakes.

But protecting the state cannot be separated from improving citizens’ lives. Security and stability gain their full value when they translate into employment opportunities, better services, and prospects for the future. Therefore, discussion of economic reform must be linked to a clear objective of strengthening production, encouraging investment, developing education, improving the efficiency of the labor market, and providing genuine opportunities for young people.

The truth is that building the economy cannot be achieved through decisions alone. It requires time, planning, continuity, and an environment that encourages innovation and respects the value of work and excellence. Just as the October victory required preparedness, sacrifice, and unity of purpose, the battle for development requires seriousness and discipline, as well as cooperation among state institutions, the private sector, and society, so that available potential can be transformed into results that citizens feel in their daily lives.

Here, the importance emerges of ensuring that development does not remain merely numbers and indicators, but that it has tangible effects on people’s lives, and that reform efforts go hand in hand with attention to the most vulnerable groups and improving the quality of essential services. Confidence in the development process is strengthened whenever citizens feel its impact and see that sacrifices lead to better opportunities and a more stable life.

At the same time, security remains one of the essential conditions for continued development. The president’s remarks about confronting terrorism and the sacrifices made by the sons of Egypt served as a reminder of the scale of the efforts made to preserve the country’s security. However, preserving what has been achieved requires continued development of the tools of confrontation and not limiting efforts to the security aspect alone, but also paying attention to education, culture, youth empowerment, and confronting extremist ideas, alongside countering attempts to negatively influence awareness through the digital space.

At the level of foreign policy, the speech reaffirmed Egypt’s constants in protecting its sovereignty and safeguarding its national security, particularly in light of Israeli statements concerning Sinai. Sinai is Egyptian land over which the state has fully restored its sovereignty, and any statement touching upon this fact clashes with a national constant that is not subject to compromise. At the same time, adherence to rights and commitment to the peace treaty are not contradictory paths. Responsible diplomacy is based on protecting national interests, honoring commitments, preventing escalation, and preserving stability.

This position extends to Egypt’s vision regarding the Palestinian issue, where the two-state solution represents the necessary path toward achieving a just and lasting peace that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and gives the peoples of the region an opportunity to live in security and stability. The president’s affirmation that the security of the Gulf is an integral part of Egypt’s national security also reflects the nature of Arab ties and highlights the importance of coordination and joint action to reduce escalation, protect navigation, and prevent the expansion of conflicts.

Together, these issues reveal a fundamental reality: the strength of foreign policy stems from the clarity of national constants, the ability to act in a balanced manner, and adherence to rights without slipping into miscalculated confrontations. Egypt needs to protect its security and interests, just as the region needs political solutions that address the roots of crises rather than paths that increase tensions and multiply the cost of conflict for peoples.

Between the messages directed inward and the challenges of the region, the president’s call to Egyptians was clear: “Fortify your country against this conspiracy.. and I do not say fortify the president,” followed by his emphasis: “Take care of Egypt.. take care of your country.” In my view, these two statements summarize the essence of national responsibility. The state is greater than individuals and positions, and its continuity and strength depend on the ability of its institutions and society to protect the public interest and confront challenges.

But this responsibility cannot be fulfilled through words alone. It requires mutual action. Institutions are required to demonstrate efficiency and transparency, the media accuracy and credibility, educational and cultural institutions to build awareness, and citizens to participate positively and verify information, while development and improving living standards remain two essential criteria for measuring the impact of policies on people’s lives.

The October War proved that national will, when combined with planning, preparedness, and unity of purpose, is capable of changing the course of history. Today, Egypt needs to invest that same spirit in the fields of production, knowledge, and development, so that sacrifices are transformed into opportunities, potential into achievements, and ambitions into reality that opens the doors of the future to new generations.

A nation is not protected by memory alone, nor by force alone, nor by slogans alone. It is protected by the awareness of its people, the strength of its institutions, equality of opportunity, the ability of its economy to grow, and citizens’ confidence that hard work and responsible participation can make a real difference.

Thus, “Take Care of Egypt” is not merely a concluding phrase, but a call to national responsibility that begins with individual awareness, appears in institutional performance, and is embodied in work, production, and respect for the law, ultimately leading to a strong and secure state capable of protecting its interests and shaping its future.