Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad, held a meeting with his American counterpart Marco Rubio during his visit to Washington, to discuss ways to enhance the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, and to consult on the latest developments in the Middle East and developments in a number of other regional issues, most notably the military escalation in the region, the Palestinian issue, Sudan, Lebanon, the Horn of Africa and Egyptian water security.

Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the two ministers reviewed the overall bilateral relations between the two countries, praising the depth of the strategic partnership that extends for more than four decades and the common interests it achieves in all fields, and its contribution to supporting security and stability in the region. They expressed their aspiration for further development in bilateral relations in a way that achieves common benefit.

On the economic front, Minister Abdel-Aati stressed the importance of strengthening trade and investment cooperation, highlighting the opportunities that Egypt offers to attract new American investments in various sectors.

The Foreign Minister also expressed his hope for holding the second meeting of the Joint Economic Commission, and for Cairo to host the second edition of the “Egyptian-American Economic Forum” in coordination with the American Chamber of Commerce during June 2026, with the aim of increasing the volume of economic partnerships between the two countries, stressing the hope of attracting new American companies to participate in the next edition.

The Horn of Africa region, especially Somalia and Eritrea

Regarding regional developments, the two ministers discussed the current situation in the region, the course of negotiations between the United States and Iran, and the efforts being made to bridge the existing gaps in order to achieve security and stability in the region.

The US Secretary of State briefed Minister Abdel-Aati on all developments in this regard.

The meeting also addressed developments in the Palestinian issue, particularly developments in the Gaza Strip and the implementation of the requirements of the second phase of the US President’s plan, as well as the ongoing Israeli violations in the West Bank.

Regarding the situation in Sudan, Minister Abdel-Aati stressed the need to preserve Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity, and to support its national institutions, as well as the importance of launching a purely Sudanese-owned political process to end the conflict.

The two ministers stressed the importance of reaching a humanitarian truce as a preliminary step towards a sustainable ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach the Sudanese people and alleviate the pressure on them.

The meeting addressed the situation in Lebanon in light of the Israeli escalation and the critical importance of putting an end to the repeated Israeli attacks. Minister Abdel-Aati stressed the importance of respecting the unity and territorial integrity of Lebanon, empowering national institutions, especially the army, achieving a ceasefire, stopping Israeli attacks, and allowing for negotiations.

The meeting also touched on the situation in the Horn of Africa region, where Minister Abdel-Aati stressed the constants of the Egyptian position on the need to respect the unity and sovereignty of the countries of the region, especially Somalia and Eritrea, in order to support security and stability in the region.

Regarding the water security file, Minister Abdel-Aty reiterated that the Nile River represents an existential issue and a lifeline for the Egyptian people in light of severe water scarcity, explaining Egypt’s commitment to serious cooperation in accordance with the principles of international law, and rejecting any unilateral actions on transboundary rivers.

For his part, the US Secretary of State praised the strategic relationship between Egypt and the United States, highlighting the mutual benefits achieved through the strategic partnership across various fields. He also commended Egypt's efforts to support security and stability in the region. The two ministers agreed to maintain close consultation and coordination in the coming period regarding various regional and international issues of common interest, in order to bolster efforts to preserve regional and international security and stability.