Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati stressed the urgent need to reduce regional tensions and prioritise diplomatic dialogue during a phone call with the newly appointed Dutch Foreign Minister, Tom Berendsen, on Wednesday.
Minister Abdel-Aati reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to working closely with the Netherlands to build on the strong bilateral political, economic, and cultural ties. He highlighted promising opportunities for economic co-operation, particularly in renewable energy, and invited Dutch investors to expand their engagement in Egypt, leveraging incentives in new economic zones and mega national projects.
The Egyptian foreign minister also praised the constructive collaboration between Cairo and Amsterdam on migration and the repatriation of Egyptian antiquities, which were illegally taken abroad, noting that joint efforts that have successfully returned several smuggled artifacts.
Abdel-Aati underscored the importance of Dutch support for the rapid release of the second tranche of the EU’s comprehensive support package to Egypt, designed to help mitigate the severe economic impacts of rising energy and food prices, as well as increased shipping and insurance costs resulting from regional military escalation.
The phone discussions also covered rapid developments across the region. Abdel-Aati stressed the need for de-escalation and a diplomatic approach to prevent widespread chaos.
Minister Abdel-Aati briefed his Dutch counterpart Berendsen on his recent visits to Gulf countries and Jordan, reaffirming Egypt’s support and solidarity with these countries. He condemned Iranian attacks on Arab territories, emphasising that any breach of Arab sovereignty directly threatens Egyptian and regional security. He also called for coordinated international action to avert a full-scale regional war, given its severe economic, security, and geostrategic consequences.
For his part, Minister Berendsen expressed his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and praised Egypt’s stabilising role in the region, commending its prudent management of the current regional tensions.
