Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Wednesday declared that he will run in the country’s next presidential election, formally launching what is widely expected to be an easy glide into the presidency for the politically Teflon figure but potentially complicating Cairo’s future relationship with the Obama administration.

A transcript of the resignation speech was provided by the Egyptian army, and saw Sisi opening by announcing his resignation before pivoting to issues related to security and stability. Observers have drawn particular attention to portions of the speech that dealt with terrorism.

We are threatened by the terrorists … by parties who seek the destruction of our life, safety and security. It is true this is my last day in uniform but I will fight every day for Egypt free of fear and terror … not only Egypt but the whole region… I repeat what I have said before “we’d rather die before Egyptians are terrorized”.

The Egyptian army is in the midst of a wide-ranging campaign in the Sinai Peninsula targeting terrorist infrastructure that has taken root in the territory. Top Egyptian figures have blasted the White House for blocking the transfer of Apache helicopters that Egyptian officials consider crucial to staging anti-terror campaigns, and Sisi himself has described Egyptian frustration with what he characterized as Americans having “turned [their] backs on the Egyptians.”

Sisi subsequently traveled to Moscow to among other things pursue weapons deals. The incident was broadly read as bolstering the concerns of analysts who have criticized the administration for repeatedly snubbing the Egyptians and risking a rupture between in bilateral relations between Cairo and Washington.

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