Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has welcomed the United States’ decision to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization, describing the move as a decisive and long-overdue step in confronting extremism and reinforcing regional and international security.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the U.S. designation of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt as a globally sanctioned terrorist entity reflects growing international recognition of what Cairo described as the group’s extremist ideology and its direct threat to stability. The ministry said the decision underscores the dangers posed by the Brotherhood’s activities, which it accused of promoting violence, incitement, and political exploitation of religion.
Egypt praised the efforts of the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump to combat international terrorism, saying Washington’s actions align fully with Cairo’s long-standing position on the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt has designated the group a terrorist organization for more than a decade, arguing that it is rooted in violence and extremism and has repeatedly sought to undermine state institutions through armed attacks and political agitation.
The foreign ministry said Egypt and other countries in the region have suffered for decades from what it described as the Brotherhood’s campaign of violence, citing attacks that targeted police, the armed forces and civilians in an effort to destabilize the country and threaten public order.
Cairo said the U.S. designation validates Egypt’s firm stance following the June 30, 2013 uprising, which led to the removal of the Brotherhood-backed government. According to the statement, the Egyptian state acted at that time to defend the will of the people and protect national institutions from what it described as an attempt by the group to seize control of the state and impose its agenda through violence and terrorism.
The statement also emphasized the sacrifices Egypt has made in its fight against terrorism, saying those efforts demonstrate the country’s unwavering commitment to confronting extremist ideology and armed violence in order to safeguard national security and preserve state institutions.
Egypt reaffirmed its determination to continue strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms, stressing the importance of cutting off both the ideological and financial sources of extremist organizations. The foreign ministry said Cairo remains committed to working closely with international partners to counter all groups that threaten regional and global peace and security.
The U.S. decision, announced earlier Tuesday by the State and Treasury departments, marks a significant escalation in Washington’s approach to the Muslim Brotherhood and was immediately embraced by Egyptian officials as a milestone in the global fight against extremism.
