Egypt’s FM, French Counterpart Discuss Cooperation

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Badr Abdelatty, met with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, on Wednesday, May 21, on the sidelines of the African-European Ministerial Meeting held in Brussels.

During the meeting, Minister Abdelatty expressed appreciation for the growing momentum in strategic relations between Egypt and France. He highlighted the significance of French President Emmanuel Macron’s historic visit to Egypt in April, during which the bilateral relationship was elevated to the level of a strategic partnership. Abdel Aaty emphasized Egypt’s commitment to deepening cooperation across political, economic, cultural, and educational fields and called for further strengthening of ties to serve the mutual interests of both nations.

He also encouraged the French private sector to take advantage of the investment opportunities in Egypt and to use the Egyptian market as a gateway for broader economic and trade engagement.

Minister Abdelatty welcomed France’s supportive stance within EU institutions, particularly regarding the European financial assistance package for Egypt. He also outlined the economic challenges Egypt faces due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, including their impact on Red Sea maritime security, Suez Canal revenues, and the country’s responsibilities in hosting more than 9.5 million foreign nationals.

The two ministers exchanged views on key regional issues, particularly the Palestinian cause. Abdelatty praised France’s support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and welcomed the joint statement issued by the leaders of France, the UK, and Canada, which called for an end to the war in Gaza and the West Bank and urged immediate access for humanitarian aid to the Strip.

He also reiterated Egypt’s hope that France and other European countries would move forward with recognizing the State of Palestine, viewing such recognition as a cornerstone for achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.