Sisi, Italy’s defence minister discuss ways to deepen military ties
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. The meeting was attended by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense and Military Production, General Abdel Maguid Saqr, and Italy’s Ambassador to Egypt, Michele Quaroni.
According to the presidency spokesman, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, the Italian minister conveyed greetings of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, expressing her appreciation for the long-standing historical ties between the two countries.
This was appreciated by President Sisi, who stressed the importance of building on the momentum in Egyptian-Italian relations.
The meeting discussed ways to enhance bilateral co-operation between Egypt and Italy across multiple sectors, with a particular focus on military and security fields to consolidate the strategic bilateral relations and to advance common interests amidst the challenges and tension currently facing the regional and international arenas.
The meeting also addressed developments in the Palestinian territories and Egypt’s efforts to reach a ceasefire. Both sides emphasised the need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, immediate action to end the humanitarian suffering of the people in the Strip, and efforts to secure the release of hostages and detainees, as well as the commencement of the reconstruction process.
The two sides firmly rejected the displacement of Palestinians from their land and stressed the importance of implementing the two-state solution through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, being the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.
The meeting also addressed ways to continue strengthening cooperation between Egypt and Italy in the field of migration and combating illegal migration. The Italian Defence Minister expressed his country’s appreciation for the efforts exerted by the Egyptian authorities in this regard, which have resulted in stopping the departure of any boats carrying illegal migrants from the Egyptian coast to Europe since 2016. This is in addition to ongoing coordination between the relevant authorities in both countries.
The meeting reviewed regional developments across the Middle East. Both sides underscored the need to support peace efforts and maintain the sovereignty and territorial integrity of affected states. Discussions also touched on Italy’s strategic approach to engagement with Africa, focusing on joint development and cooperation projects. Opportunities for Egypt to participate in Italian-led initiatives on the continent were also explored.
