Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held talks on Tuesday, April 14, in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss strengthening bilateral strategic relations and reviewing developments across the Middle East and other regional files, according to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Badr Abdelatty met with Marco Rubio during an official visit aimed at reinforcing the long-standing strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, which both sides described as extending over four decades and serving mutual interests in various fields.
Strengthening bilateral ties and economic cooperation
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the full scope of bilateral relations and expressed appreciation for the depth of strategic cooperation between Cairo and Washington. The two officials highlighted that this partnership continues to contribute to regional stability and shared security interests.
On the economic front, Abdelatty stressed the importance of expanding trade and investment cooperation, presenting opportunities available in Egypt to attract new American investments across multiple sectors. He also expressed Egypt’s interest in convening the second session of the Joint Economic Commission and hosting the second edition of the Egyptian-American Economic Forum in Cairo in June 2026, in coordination with the American Chamber of Commerce, to further boost economic ties.
Regional developments and security challenges
The talks also covered a wide range of regional issues, including ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the status of negotiations between the United States and Iran. According to the statement, the U.S. Secretary of State briefed the Egyptian side on recent developments in this regard.
Both ministers also discussed the situation in the Palestinian territories, particularly developments in Gaza and efforts related to implementing the second phase of the U.S. president’s plan, in addition to continued Israeli violations in the West Bank.
Sudan, Lebanon, and regional stability
Regarding Sudan, Abdelatty emphasized the importance of preserving the country’s unity and territorial integrity, supporting national institutions, and launching a Sudanese-owned political process to end the ongoing conflict. Both sides agreed on the necessity of reaching a humanitarian truce as a step toward a sustainable ceasefire to allow the delivery of aid and ease humanitarian suffering.
The situation in Lebanon was also addressed in light of escalating tensions. Abdelatty stressed the need to halt repeated Israeli attacks, respect Lebanon’s sovereignty, and strengthen national institutions, particularly the Lebanese army, while creating conditions for a ceasefire and renewed diplomatic efforts.
Horn of Africa and Nile water security
The discussions extended to the Horn of Africa, where Egypt reaffirmed its position calling for respect for the sovereignty and unity of regional states, particularly Somalia and Eritrea, in order to support stability and security in the region.
On the issue of Nile water security, Abdelatty reiterated that the Nile River represents an existential issue for Egypt amid increasing water scarcity. He emphasized Egypt’s commitment to cooperation based on international law while rejecting any unilateral actions on transboundary rivers.
Continued coordination
For his part, the U.S. Secretary of State praised the strategic relationship between Egypt and the United States and its role in promoting mutual interests and regional stability. Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination and ongoing consultations on regional and international issues of common concern in the coming period.
