Egypt, Britain Call for Diplomacy on Iran, Gaza During London Talks

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty and British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper held talks in London on Tuesday focused on strengthening bilateral ties and coordinating positions on mounting regional crises, including the Iran nuclear negotiations and the war in Gaza.

The meeting came as part of regular consultations between Egypt and the United Kingdom aimed at deepening political and economic cooperation and exchanging views on regional developments, according to Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf.

Abdelatty praised what he described as the growing momentum in Egyptian-British relations and stressed Cairo’s commitment to expanding cooperation across political, economic, cultural, educational and defence sectors.

He highlighted mechanisms established under the 2020 Egypt-UK Partnership Agreement, saying they continue to support joint initiatives and coordination between officials from both countries.

The Egyptian foreign minister also underscored the importance Cairo places on attracting additional British investment, noting that Britain remains one of Egypt’s largest cumulative foreign investors across several sectors.

Regional developments featured prominently in the talks, particularly ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Abdelatty said Egypt was working closely with regional and international partners to contain tensions and prevent further escalation, stressing that diplomacy and dialogue remained the only viable path toward resolving the crisis.

He also warned of the economic consequences of continued regional instability, including disruptions to international trade and global shipping routes, and stressed the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in international waterways.

The minister reaffirmed Egypt’s solidarity with Gulf Arab states against threats to their security and stability.

On Gaza, Abdelatty called for coordinated international and regional efforts to implement the second phase of the U.S. ceasefire proposal, ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian and medical assistance and support early recovery and reconstruction efforts.

He also affirmed the need to empower the Palestinian National Committee to carry out its responsibilities as part of efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian issue.

Abdelatty welcomed Britain’s supportive stance toward the Palestinians, including London’s recognition of the State of Palestine.

The discussions also covered developments in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, the Horn of Africa and regional water security issues.

In turn, Cooper praised Egypt’s efforts to support stability in the Middle East and reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with both sides agreeing to maintain close coordination to reduce regional tensions and promote peace and stability.