Sisi discusses with CIA Director resolving regional crises and addressing their root causes comprehensively

Cairo (KUNA) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reaffirmed yesterday his country’s firm stance supporting the security and sovereignty of Arab states and rejecting any aggression against them. The official spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, stated in a press release that this position was expressed during a meeting between President el-Sisi and U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe, in which they reviewed developments in the Middle East.

El-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s full support for efforts aimed at “reaching a comprehensive agreement that ends the Iranian crisis, thereby contributing to restoring security and stability in the region and ensuring freedom of international navigation.” According to the statement, he also stressed the importance of resolving regional crises through political and diplomatic channels and addressing their root causes comprehensively, in order to preserve national institutions, safeguard territorial integrity, and maintain the unity of states.

Regarding developments in the Palestinian issue, el-Sisi underscored, according to the statement, the importance of fully implementing the second phase of the U.S. President’s plan aimed at consolidating the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, commending the efforts made by mediators to reach a roadmap ensuring the implementation of this phase. El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s firm positions, foremost among which is the necessity of consolidating the ceasefire, protecting civilians, ensuring adequate and sustainable access for humanitarian aid to the Strip, and creating suitable conditions to resume the political process leading to a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the two-state solution principle.

For his part, Ratcliffe affirmed the U.S. administration’s commitment to continuing work and close coordination with Egypt to enhance security and stability in the Middle East region, praising Egypt’s pivotal role in reaching the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and Cairo’s ongoing efforts to support the peace process and enhance stability in the region.

The meeting also addressed the Sudanese crisis, where el-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s firm stance supporting Sudan’s unity, stability, and the preservation of its legitimate national institutions, noting that Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity are “constants that cannot be compromised.” According to the statement, el-Sisi pointed out Egypt’s “active and constructive” engagement in various international and regional frameworks concerned with the Sudanese crisis, with the aim of halting the war, alleviating humanitarian suffering, and supporting the political settlement process.

The discussions also covered developments in the Horn of Africa, where President el-Sisi, according to the statement, reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for efforts to achieve security and stability in Somalia and its firm rejection of any infringement on its sovereignty, unity, or territorial integrity.

For his part, the U.S. CIA Director expressed his country’s appreciation for Egypt’s active role in supporting security and stability in the African continent, emphasizing the importance of continued coordination and consultation between the relevant authorities in both countries, particularly regarding the Sudanese crisis, the situation in Somalia, the Horn of Africa region, and international maritime security.