Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Sergei Naryshkin, Director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, in Cairo on 10 February 2026, in a meeting that underscored the strategic depth of Egyptian-Russian relations and ongoing coordination on regional and international issues. The meeting was attended by Major General Hassan Rashad, Head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service.
According to Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, President El-Sisi asked at the outset of the meeting that his greetings be conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the current positive trajectory of bilateral relations and affirmed Cairo’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Russia across various fields. The president also emphasized the importance of intensifying political and security consultations between the two countries in a manner that serves the interests of both peoples and contributes to regional and international peace and stability.
For his part, Naryshkin conveyed President Putin’s greetings and appreciation to President El-Sisi, stressing the strategic nature of relations between Egypt and Russia. He reaffirmed the Russian leadership’s keenness to expand cooperation in all areas, including trade and investment, and highlighted Moscow’s pride in its partnership with Egypt on major strategic projects, notably the construction of the Dabaa nuclear power plant.
The discussions also covered a range of regional and international developments of mutual concern. Naryshkin listened to President El-Sisi’s assessment of the evolving situation in the Middle East and Egypt’s efforts to preserve regional stability. In this context, President El-Sisi underscored the central importance of consolidating the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and ensuring the implementation of its second phase, particularly with regard to the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the swift launch of early recovery and reconstruction efforts.
The Russian official expressed his country’s strong appreciation for Egypt’s role, under President El-Sisi’s leadership, in seeking to halt the war in Gaza, rejecting the forced displacement of the Palestinian population, and facilitating the entry of much-needed humanitarian aid.
The presidential spokesman added that the meeting emphasized the necessity of strengthening joint Egyptian-Russian efforts to prevent renewed escalation in the region. Both sides agreed on the importance of intensifying political consultations and coordination between relevant institutions in order to de-escalate tensions and pursue peaceful solutions to ongoing regional and international crises.
The meeting reflects continued high-level engagement between Cairo and Moscow at a time of heightened regional uncertainty, with both countries positioning dialogue and coordination as key tools for managing security challenges and advancing shared strategic interests.
