Egypt, U.S. Discuss Regional International Issues, Bilateral Relations

On Sunday, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad, Badr Abdelatty, engaged in a phone call with Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to the US President for Arab and African Affairs. 

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that during their conversation, the two ministers exchanged views on regional issues of common concern, particularly the latest developments in the Middle East and Africa.

They expressed their desire to enhance joint cooperation across various political and economic spheres and to maintain close coordination on regional matters of shared concern.

The call addressed efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. Minister Abdelatty highlighted the critical need to resume dialogue between the United States and Iran to reach agreements aimed at achieving de-escalation. He emphasized the importance of utilizing dialogue and diplomacy to alleviate tensions and prevent the region from experiencing the consequences of a broader conflict.

Furthermore, the discussion covered developments in Libya, where Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast support for Libya’s unity and stability. He stressed the necessity of unifying national institutions and achieving a comprehensive political settlement through a Libyan-led process, with the goal of enabling simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible.

Regarding Sudan, Abdelatty affirmed the importance of preserving the country’s unity and territorial integrity, supporting its national institutions, and rejecting the establishment of any parallel entities. He called for the initiation of a Sudanese-led political process to end the conflict and emphasized the need for a humanitarian truce as a preliminary step toward achieving a sustainable ceasefire, which would allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid and relieve the suffering of the Sudanese people.

The call also touched upon the issue of the Ethiopian dam, Egyptian water security, and the situation in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s complete rejection of any unilateral actions, stating that water security is an existential concern for Egypt. He stressed the importance of adhering to international law and respecting the sovereignty and unity of the countries within the region to support overall regional security and stability.

In turn, Massad Boulos praised Egypt’s pivotal role in fostering security and stability in the Middle East and Africa. He expressed appreciation for Egypt’s efforts to mitigate escalation and manage regional crises, emphasizing the US administration’s commitment to continuing the strengthening of the strategic partnership with Egypt and maintaining close coordination between the two nations to confront common challenges.