Egypt FM, US senators discuss regional stability, bilateral ties

Al-Ahram Weekly

4 days ago

​Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty held separate meetings with several key US senators in Washington to discuss regional stability, the Gaza crisis, and ways to deepen bilateral cooperation.
FM Abdelatty met with US Senators Lindsey Graham, Brian Schatz, Roger Wicker, and David McCormick, according to separate statements by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
This came during Abdelatty's visit to the United States to participate in the United Nations High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. The conference, co-organized by France and Saudi Arabia, was held on Monday and Tuesday in New York.
Meeting with Graham
During his meeting with Republican Senator Graham, Abdelatty reviewed Egypt's regional role in supporting security and promoting peace, as well as its mediation efforts — along with Qatar and the US — to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
The foreign minister stressed the urgency of achieving a permanent ceasefire as the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring an unhindered influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza and launching the early recovery and reconstruction efforts.
On Saturday, Israel announced a limited tactical pause in its military operations in parts of Gaza to allow the delivery of aid to starving Palestinians.
Since then, Egypt has dispatched three aid convoys to Gaza on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, with the fourth sent on Wednesday.
Still, Gaza is struggling to survive under the famine, as many have died as a result of Israel's policy of mass starvation and blockade.
Let alone, much of the limited aid that reaches Gaza is being seized by gangs and profiteers, who resell it at exorbitant prices.
Since October 2023, Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has killed over 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, with women and children making up more than half the dead.
Moreover, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to supporting the peace process and reaching a just and comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian cause, based on the two-state solution and international legitimacy.
Additionally, FM Abdelatty highlighted Egypt's concerns regarding the Nile River and Egyptian water security.
He affirmed Egypt's consistent position in adhering to international law regarding shared water resources.
He also affirmed the necessity of cooperation based on consensus and mutual benefit to serve the interests of all Nile Basin countries, rejecting any unilateral measures that violate international law.
He further asserted that Egypt will take all necessary measures guaranteed by international law to protect its water security.
Meeting with Schatz
During his meeting with Schatz, Abdelatty discussed the latest developments in the Gaza crisis and the Sahel region and West Africa, shedding light on the escalating security challenges and the spread of terrorist organizations and armed groups there.
He also highlighted the results of his recent tour to West Africa, emphasizing Egypt's interest in the Sahel region as a strategic neighbour.
Meeting with Wicker
During his meeting with Senator Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Abdelatty reviewed Egypt's ongoing efforts to support security and stability in the Middle East and Africa.
He affirmed that the Egyptian-American partnership is a cornerstone in supporting these efforts.
Egypt's top diplomat further outlined the multiple threats and challenges Egypt faces from different directions, which place increased responsibilities on it to safeguard its national security and help maintain regional and international stability.
He also commended the ongoing military cooperation between Egypt and the US.
Minister Abdelatty also underscored Egypt's concerns over the Nile water security issue and the need for legal cooperation on transboundary resources.
Meeting with McCormick
Abdelatty and McCormick discussed various regional challenges, especially the Gaza crisis, the latest developments in Libya and Syria, and the Red Sea maritime security.
During the separate meetings, Minister Abdelatty praised the longstanding strategic partnership and the distinguished political, military, and economic cooperation between Egypt and the US.
He also highlighted the outcomes of the Egypt-US Economic Forum held in Cairo last May, in which over 50 American companies participated.
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