Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with a bipartisan US Congressional delegation on Wednesday to discuss economic cooperation and regional crises. The meeting, held in New Alamein, included Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, along with other officials from the House of Representatives and Senate. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry also attended the meeting.
The discussions primarily focused on enhancing economic relations between Egypt and the United States, as well as promoting American investments in Egypt. The US delegation praised Egypt’s ongoing development efforts, including infrastructure upgrades and the establishment of new cities. Cooperation in the petroleum, gas, and green energy sectors, as well as land reclamation, were also discussed.
Another key topic of discussion was the negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to reaching a binding legal agreement on the GERD filling and operation that takes into account the interests and concerns of all three nations.
The meeting also touched upon Egypt’s efforts in counterterrorism, combating extremist ideologies, and promoting human rights, religious tolerance, coexistence, and equal citizenship. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis and its geopolitical and economic repercussions were also addressed, emphasizing the importance of international peace and security.
On a regional level, the Egyptian and US officials discussed the crises in Sudan, Libya, and Syria, emphasizing the need for political solutions that preserve the unity of nations and their territories. The American delegation recognized Egypt’s pivotal role in establishing and reinforcing peace in the Middle East.
President El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s longstanding support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, urging international efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive solution that guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.
