Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone talks on Thursday evening with the new US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio as part of communication with the US administration following the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on January 20.
The official spokesperson for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Tamim Khallaf, said that Abdelatty congratulated Rubio on assuming his new position, and added that the consensus that Rubio’s nomination received in the Senate reflects full confidence in his ability to manage US foreign policy.
Strengthening ties
Abdelatty put forward his desire to work closely with Rubio and the new US administration to strengthen the strategic partnership between Egypt and the US, which extends for more than four decades.
He also pledged to ascent bilateral relations in all political, military, economic and developmental fields in order to best achieve common Egyptian-American interests and contribute to bringing forth lasting stability in the Middle East.
Both officials discussed ways to support bilateral relations and enhance joint cooperation frameworks, including regularly maintaining strategic dialogue between both countries.
Abdelatty also discussed the importance of encouraging US companies to invest in Egypt, especially in promising sectors, and Egypt’s aspiration to hold an economic forum this year with the participation of major US companies, highlighting the measures taken by the Egyptian government to support the private sector and create a sustainable business environment.
Regional developments
A statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry explained that both officials discussed in detail various crises and successive regional developments.
They both shared their views and assessments regarding developments in the Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Libya, the Horn of Africa, Red Sea security and freedom of navigation, the issue of the Ethiopian dam and Egypt’s water security.
The two agreed on the importance of enhancing cooperation between the two countries with the aim of reducing escalation in the region and establishing peace and stability, the statement added.
The Gaza crisis
Abdelatty called for continuing coordination between Egypt, Qatar and the US to ensure full implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, stressing the importance of all parties respecting the terms of the agreement and working to implement its stages on the dates specified for them.
He also urged the importance of achieving a final settlement of the Palestinian issue that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution, one that can avoid future cycles of violence between Israel and Palestine.
The US Secretary of State valued the strategic partnership between both nations, and the pivotal role played by Egypt in the Middle East, praising the efforts made by Egypt to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
He stressed that the new administration is keen to advance bilateral cooperation relations with Egypt in various fields during the next stage.
