In a diplomatic meeting held in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva discussed the enhancement of bilateral relations and addressed the ongoing Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip. The leaders expressed their commitment to strengthening ties across various sectors, marking the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Egypt.
At a joint press conference, President Sisi highlighted the mutual agreement to develop relations in political, economic, cultural, industrial, and agricultural domains. Both leaders emphasized the imperative need for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the delivery of essential aid to protect civilian lives.
President Sisi acknowledged the crucial role of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, serving as a vital lifeline for providing relief supplies to the enclave since Israel’s extensive military offensive in October of the previous year. President Lula commended Egypt for facilitating the safe evacuation of approximately 2,000 Brazilian citizens from besieged Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
In addition to their focus on Gaza, both leaders voiced support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, seeking to bring an end to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
President Lula revealed that discussions with his Egyptian counterpart included elevating bilateral ties to a “strategic partnership” level and enhancing the current annual trade exchange, which stands at around 2 billion U.S. dollars.
Commenting on Egypt’s recent membership in the BRICS bloc, where Brazil is a founding member, President Lula expressed their joint commitment to reforming international governance and promoting peace within the framework of BRICS. He emphasized the importance of fostering a multilateral world that provides fair development opportunities for developing states.
