Egypt Daily News – President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is heading today to the Eritrean capital Asmara, on a visit in response to an invitation from Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.
The visit will address ways to enhance bilateral relations in various fields, in addition to regional conditions and efforts to establish stability and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, in a manner that supports the development process and serves the interests of the region’s peoples.
Informed sources told Bloomberg that the visit will witness the signing of an agreement aimed at intelligence sharing and military cooperation.
The Egyptian presidency’s statement mentioned that “the visit will discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations in various fields, in addition to regional conditions and efforts to establish stability and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.”
Sources said that the Egyptian president’s visit to Eritrea aims to discuss “enhancing bilateral relations” and signing an agreement targeting the exchange of intelligence and military cooperation to protect trade routes across the Red Sea.
The sources added that Cairo and Asmara will sign an “important” agreement, noting that it resembles the agreement signed between Egypt and Somalia last August.
Sources mentioned that Egypt has informed all parties that it will not accept any Ethiopian military presence in the Red Sea.
During mid-last month, the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence, Abbas Kamel, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdel Atti, conveyed a message from President Sisi to his Eritrean counterpart, Isaias Afwerki.
The message addressed ways to support and develop bilateral relations and monitor developments in the region, before they listened to the Eritrean President’s vision regarding the Red Sea, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
