Sisi Emphasizes Shared Destiny... Mohammed bin Salman Praises Coordination for Stability
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman stressed “the necessity of de-escalating current regional tensions to preserve peace and stability in the region, given the repercussions of the current tensions on energy security, supply chains, and regional and international trade.”
The Presidency stated in a bulletin that el-Sisi and Mohammed bin Salman held a telephone conversation on Thursday, discussing “the overall bilateral relations, where the Egyptian President emphasized the importance of continuing to advance and strengthen various aspects of bilateral cooperation, in order to achieve shared interests and meet the aspirations of the two countries and their fraternal peoples for development, prosperity, and improving conditions in the region.”
He stressed “the shared destiny between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and the importance of joint efforts to overcome the challenges facing the region and its countries,” affirming that “the security of Saudi Arabia and all Arab states is an extension of Egypt’s national security.”
For his part, Mohammed bin Salman expressed his appreciation for el-Sisi’s congratulations, affirming “the fraternal and historical ties that unite the two fraternal countries.”
He expressed his appreciation for “the progress witnessed in relations with Egypt,” praising “the close coordination between the two countries to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East region and meet the aspirations of the two fraternal peoples for progress and prosperity,” while emphasizing “the importance of intensifying coordination in various fields, including the exchange of high-level visits.”
On another note, el-Sisi, during his meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Cairo, stressed “the vital importance of the Nile River issue to Egypt, as its main lifeline and a national security issue,” affirming its “legitimate right to protect its water and food security and its developmental interests.”
He affirmed “Egypt’s firm rejection of any unilateral actions on the river’s course and the necessity of full compliance with the rules of international law, including the principle of no significant harm.”
El-Sisi outlined his vision regarding ways to contain regional tensions related to the Iranian war and Egypt’s efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Middle East and containing their repercussions on the security and stability of the region.
He stressed that “guaranteeing the security of the Red Sea is the exclusive responsibility of the riparian states, with a rejection of any attempts to destabilize it or push it toward militarization and internationalization.”
He pointed to the noticeable development in bilateral relations across various fields, calling on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to visit Egypt to continue coordination and consultation on issues of common interest.
For his part, Tajani affirmed his country’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Egypt and elevating it to broader horizons to achieve shared interests, while continuing coordination to address the phenomenon of illegal migration.
He expressed his country’s appreciation for Egypt’s efforts in restoring regional stability, affirming Italy’s aspiration to continue political consultation with Egypt to achieve peaceful settlements for regional crises, thereby enhancing peace and prosperity in the region.
The Egyptian Presidency noted that an address from el-Sisi to Meloni was handed over to the Italian side, congratulating her government on being the “longest-serving” in Italian history.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, in a phone call on Wednesday evening, with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, stressed “the priority of an immediate halt to escalation and exercising maximum restraint, and the necessity of returning to the diplomatic track and resuming negotiations between the United States and Iran based on the Islamabad memorandum, considering that dialogue and political solutions are the only way to restore security and stability in the region.”
Abdel-Ati and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman stressed the “danger of continuing an escalation approach and its serious repercussions on the security and stability of the region, the safety of its peoples, and freedom of navigation and international trade,” emphasizing the “need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, the principles of good neighborliness, and the security and safety of navigation in international sea lanes.”
On another note, President Sisi issued a decree approving the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters between the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
