Egyptian FM Holds Phone Talks with Singaporean Counterpart

Badr Abdelatty, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates, held a phone call on Friday with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday.

The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, said the two ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and reviewed regional developments.

Minister Abdelatty praised the strong ties between the two countries and expressed Egypt’s keenness to advance cooperation across various fields, particularly as the two countries mark 60 years of diplomatic relations this year.

He stressed the importance of enhancing economic, trade, and investment cooperation, alongside strengthening private-sector partnerships.

Abdelatty also highlighted the outcomes of the Singaporean president’s visit to Egypt in September 2025, which saw the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding.

The minister said Egypt looks forward to expanding Singaporean investments in key sectors, including logistics, technology, semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, modern financial systems, waste recycling and renewable energy—particularly green hydrogen, and solar power.

He also called for closer cooperation between Egyptian and Singaporean ports and their digitalisation to boost Egyptian exports to Singapore and other Asian markets.

On regional developments, Abdelatty warned of the serious repercussions of ongoing military escalation in the Middle East on international maritime security and global supply chains.

He highlighted that the escalating tensions in the region pose unprecedented challenges to international trade, particularly given the threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy transport.

The minister explained that these developments directly impact shipping and insurance costs and disrupt the flow of essential commodities, including oil, gas, food, and fertilizers, further exacerbating the pressures on economies, especially those of developing nations.

Both ministers condemned Iranian attacks targeting Gulf countries, stressing the need for de-escalation and the prioritization of diplomatic solutions to avoid further instability.

In this statement, the two ministers condemned the Iranian attacks targeting brotherly Gulf states, saying there is no justification for such actions and warning of the serious repercussions of military escalation and the expansion of the conflict.

They also emphasized the importance of de-escalation, prioritizing diplomatic solutions, and adopting dialogue as the primary means to prevent the region from sliding into further instability.

Abdelatty also touched on developments in the Red Sea, stressing that any threat to the security of navigation in the Red Sea does not only affect the countries of the region, but extends to the entire global economy.

He emphasised the importance of safeguarding navigation in the Red Sea, noting its vital global significance and maintaining it as a safe and stable passage that serves the interests of all countries.

For his part, Balakrishnan expressed his country’s appreciation for the pivotal role that Egypt plays in securing navigation in the Red Sea Egypt’s in securing navigation in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.