Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty stressed that there is no military solution to the crisis in the Middle East.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, Abdelatty expressed hope for the swift resumption of direct negotiations between Iran and the United States. He condemned what he described as unjustified attacks on Gulf states, Jordan and Iraq.
The foreign minister said his visit to Spain reflects the depth of relations between Cairo and Madrid, which witnessed unprecedented development over the past year.
He pointed to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s important visit to Spain, during which bilateral ties were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership.
Abdelatty also highlighted the visit of King Felipe VI to Egypt in September, which coincided with the convening of a joint business forum, as well as the king’s attendance at the inauguration ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum on November 1, 2025, at the invitation of President al-Sisi.
He highlighted that these visits provide further evidence of the close and longstanding ties between the two friendly countries.
Abdelatty noted that Egypt and Spain share convergent positions regarding the strength of economic, trade and political relations between them.
Abdelatty praised the role of Spanish companies in supporting the implementation of Egypt’s Vision 2030, stressing that Egypt seeks to attract more Spanish investments.
He also welcomed the signing of the Egypt-Spain Partnership for Sustainable Development Program 2025–2030 on the sidelines of the Spanish king’s visit to Egypt last September, saying the agreement would further strengthen development cooperation between the two countries.
The minister said he agreed with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares on the importance of boosting trade cooperation and continuing efforts to elevate bilateral relations, while also underlining the significance of ensuring freedom of navigation.
He further praised the work of Spanish archaeological missions operating in Egypt, particularly in the field of antiquity discovery, expressing hope for expanding their activities across several archaeological sites nationwide.
Abdelatty said he and his Spanish counterpart agreed that there can be no security or stability in the Middle East or for Israel without a just and lasting settlement to the Palestinian cause.
He stressed that such a solution must guarantee the Palestinian people’s legitimate aspirations, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state along the June 4, 1967, borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He said: “Without this, there can be no sustainable peace or stability in the region.”
The foreign minister also condemned attacks carried out by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and stressed the importance of implementing the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan.
He underlined the need to move forward with the second phase of the Gaza agreement, including disarmament measures and Israeli withdrawal.
Regarding Sudan, Abdelatty stressed the importance of reaching a humanitarian truce lasting three to six months to facilitate the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid across the country.
He said the truce should pave the way for a sustainable ceasefire and launch a comprehensive Sudanese-owned political process without exclusion or external interference.
Abdelatty also stressed the need for an immediate halt to arms smuggling to illegitimate entities operating outside the framework of the Sudanese state and armed forces.
He called on neighboring countries to stop the flow of weapons into Sudan, warning that continued arms smuggling would further fuel tensions and escalation.
The minister added that Egypt values Spain’s strategy toward Africa and recognizes Madrid’s important role in supporting stability and development across the continent.
He said Egypt and Spain would work together to promote stability and development in several African countries.
