Egypt, Ireland Hold In-Depth Talks Reflecting Growing Bilateral Momentum

Ahmed Emam

Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty has described recent talks with Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence Helen McEntee as successful and in-depth, underscoring the growing momentum in Egyptian-Irish relations.

The visit marks the first of its kind by an Irish minister holding the foreign affairs, trade and defence portfolio. Abdelatty said the discussions reflected the depth of bilateral ties and the positive trajectory relations have witnessed in recent years.

He stressed the importance of following up on the outcomes of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s visit to Ireland in December 2024, describing it as a key milestone that should be built upon to advance mutual interests.

The talks also addressed regional developments, with Egypt expressing appreciation for Ireland’s supportive stance on the Palestinian cause. Both sides highlighted their broad convergence on several Middle East issues.

As part of the visit, the two sides discussed organizing a visit to the Rafah crossing to review the volume of humanitarian aid stationed there and to reaffirm the necessity of operating the crossing from both sides. This comes within the framework of Egypt’s ongoing efforts and mediation to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

Both parties emphasized the urgent need to ensure the entry of humanitarian and relief aid in quantities sufficient to meet the needs of the Palestinian people, as well as the importance of moving toward the second phase of current efforts.

The Irish foreign minister affirmed that Ireland is working within the European Union to support Egypt’s mediation role and to back efforts aimed at implementing the two-state solution as the cornerstone for resolving the Palestinian issue.

In addition to political and regional matters, the discussions covered avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation, including boosting trade exchange, increasing Irish investments in Egypt, and expanding collaboration in information and communications technology.