In a significant diplomatic gesture, UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell during a meeting with Egypt’s Ambassador to London, Ashraf Soheim, on Thursday, lauded the achievements of the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit and the pivotal role of Egypt in brokering and sustaining a ceasefire in Gaza.
Powell emphasized that the United Kingdom, together with the broader international community, places high expectations on Egypt’s continued leadership in executing the next phases of the Gaza war termination agreement. He specifically pointed to Egypt’s upcoming hosting of a reconstruction conference for Gaza next month as a critical instrument for mobilizing regional and international support for rebuilding the devastated enclave.
The two officials also held substantive talks on elevating bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership level, outlining plans around the imminent UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Egypt. That visit is expected to coincide with a high-level business and investment conference, engaging leading British and Egyptian firms. Both sides reaffirmed their mutual commitment to expanding cooperation across multiple sectors to advance common regional goals.
In their discussions, Powell and Ambassador Soheim exchanged perspectives on implementing the second stage of the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement, and expressed a shared resolve to maintain tight coordination on the roadmap to a lasting peace in Gaza.