Austin lauds Cairo’s role as pillar of security and stability in ME
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received the United States Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, and his accompanying delegation on Wednesday.
Minister of Defense and Military Production Lieutenant General Mohamed Zaki attended the meeting, together with US Charge d’affaires in Egypt Daniel Rubinstein.
During the meeting, President Sisi affirmed Egypt’s keenness to strengthen the strategic partnership with the United States. He also stressed the necessity of intensifying the existing co-operation and coordination between the two countries in various domains, especially the military and security fields, Presidency Spokesman Counselor Ahmed Fahmy said.
The president noted that cooperation and coordination between the two countries are extremely important to supporting efforts to restore security and stability and consolidate peace in the Middle East region.
President Sisi said that there has always been common understanding between Egypt and the United States regarding all issues related to the Middle East, Fahmy said.
For his part, the US Secretary of Defense voiced his country’s high appreciation for the wise Egyptian leadership and the important role Egypt plays as a pillar of security and stability in the Middle East.
Austin stressed that the United States is keen to continue developing strategic co-operation and partnership with Egypt, especially in defense, which represents the main asset of relations between the two countries.
President Sisi and the senior US official discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern.
President Sisi underscored the importance of intensifying international efforts to achieve peace and restore calm in the Palestinian territories, and stop Israel’s unilateral measures, according to the presidency spokesman.
He emphasised that the two-state solution, in accordance with the relevant international terms of reference, is the only way to achieve a just and comprehensive peace for the good of all the peoples of the ME region.
The meeting also touched on efforts to promote peace and stability at the international level, in light of the successive global crises that cast negative repercussions on various countries of the world, Fahmy said.
