Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has warned of the potentially catastrophic consequences of a widening conflict across the Middle East during a high-level phone call between Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as tensions continue to escalate across several regional flashpoints.
According to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, the two officials held discussions Thursday evening focusing on the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, while exchanging views on rapidly evolving developments across the Middle East amid growing fears that the ongoing escalation could expand into a broader regional confrontation.
The call addressed several key regional issues, including the situation in Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the ongoing crisis in Sudan, tensions in the Horn of Africa, and concerns related to Egypt’s water security.
In remarks released by the ministry, Abdelatty stressed Cairo’s long-standing position that political and diplomatic solutions must take precedence in order to prevent the region from descending into what he described as a “vicious cycle of violence and conflict” that could have severe consequences for the people and resources of the region.
The Egyptian foreign minister also reiterated Cairo’s strong condemnation of attacks targeting several countries in the region, including Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as Gulf states. He said there was no justification for assaults on the security and sovereignty of friendly and sister nations, warning that continued escalation could threaten both regional and international peace and security.
Abdelatty emphasized the importance of intensified regional and international coordination to contain the crisis, maintain stability, and safeguard global maritime navigation routes, particularly in light of rising security concerns affecting strategic waterways linked to the Middle East.
The conversation also addressed developments in Gaza following the first meeting of the Peace Council held in Washington on February 19. Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s commitment to accelerating the implementation of the second phase of the plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at stabilizing the enclave.
He said Egypt supports the work of the national committee tasked with administering Gaza and called for the deployment of an international stabilization force to ensure adherence to the ceasefire. Such steps, he added, would help pave the way for early recovery and reconstruction efforts across the territory while ensuring the continued delivery of humanitarian and relief aid to civilians throughout the Gaza Strip.
Discussions also touched on the evolving situation in the Horn of Africa. Abdelatty underscored the need to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Eritrea and Somalia, warning against any recognition of the self-declared region of Somaliland. Such recognition, he said, would violate international law and undermine Somalia’s territorial unity, potentially destabilizing the wider Red Sea region.
On water security, Abdelatty emphasized the critical importance of the Nile River for Egypt, describing it as the country’s “lifeline” amid severe water scarcity challenges. He welcomed what he described as positive signals from Washington and reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to constructive cooperation with countries of the Nile Basin based on international law and mutual benefit.
However, he also reiterated Cairo’s firm rejection of any unilateral actions affecting the river, noting that the Nile is a transboundary waterway whose management must respect the rights and interests of all riparian states.
Turning to the crisis in Sudan, Abdelatty stressed the need to protect Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and called for stronger support for the country’s national institutions. He praised ongoing U.S. engagement within the framework of the international quartet addressing the Sudan conflict and expressed hope for continued coordination with Washington to promote de-escalation and help restore a comprehensive political process in the country.
The Egyptian minister also briefed his U.S. counterpart on Cairo’s diplomatic initiatives at both regional and international levels aimed at supporting Sudan and encouraging a political resolution to the conflict.
Regarding the situation in Lebanon, Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s rejection of any violations of Lebanese sovereignty and called for the full and non-selective implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. He also urged an end to Israeli violations of Lebanese territory and voiced Egypt’s support for the Lebanese government’s efforts to consolidate state authority and ensure that weapons remain under the control of the state.
For his part, Rubio praised the strong ties between Egypt and the United States and highlighted the mutual benefits of the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries across political, economic and security fields.
He also commended Egypt’s efforts to promote stability in the region and its role in facilitating the evacuation of foreign nationals from conflict zones through Egyptian territory on humanitarian grounds.
Both ministers agreed to maintain close consultation and coordination in the coming period on key regional and international issues, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation to support efforts aimed at preserving regional and global security and stability.
