Anwar Sadat's presidency in Egypt, from 15 October 1970 until his assassination on 6 October 1981, marked a significant shift in Egyptian politics and foreign relations. After succeeding Gamal Abdel Nasser, Sadat diverged from Nasser's policies, notably through his Infitah policy, which altered Egypt's economic and political directions. He ended the strategic alliance with the Soviet Union, opting instead for a closer relationship with the United States. Sadat also initiated a peace process with Israel, leading to the return of Israeli-occupied Egyptian territory, and introduced a political system in Egypt that, while not fully democratic, allowed some level of multi-party participation. His tenure saw an increase in governmental corruption and a growing disparity between the rich and poor, trends that continued under his successor, Hosni Mubarak.^[137]

On 6 October 1973, Sadat and Syria's Hafez al-Assad launched the October War against Israel to reclaim land lost in the 1967 Six Day War. The war, beginning on the Jewish Yom Kippur and during the Islamic month of Ramadan, initially saw Egyptian and Syrian advances in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. However, Israel's counteroffensive resulted in heavy losses for Egypt and Syria. The war concluded with Egypt regaining some territory in Sinai but also with Israeli gains on the west bank of the Suez Canal. Despite military setbacks, Sadat was credited with restoring Egyptian pride and demonstrating to Israel that the status quo was unsustainable.

The Egypt-Israel peace treaty, facilitated by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and signed by Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, formally recognized Israel in exchange for the end of Israeli occupation of the Sinai Peninsula and proposed autonomy for Palestinian territories. Arab leaders, led by Hafez al-Assad, condemned the treaty, leading to Egypt's suspension from the Arab League and regional isolation.^[138] The treaty faced immense domestic opposition, particularly from Islamist groups. This opposition culminated in Sadat's assassination by Islamist members of the Egyptian military on the anniversary of the October War's commencement.