Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation, and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdel-Aati, met on Friday with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila.
The two ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties and exchanged views on pressing regional developments.
Abdel-Aati welcomed the significant progress in Egypt–Netherlands relations in recent years, noting the increased frequency of high-level visits and contacts between the two nations. He reiterated Cairo’s commitment to deepening co-operation across multiple sectors, highlighting the need to capitalise on opportunities to expand trade ties and boost Dutch investment in Egypt.
He also underscored Egypt’s interest in enhancing joint efforts on issues of mutual concern, particularly water management and migration management.
The ministers reviewed key regional issues, focusing heavily on the Palestinian situation.
Abdel-Aati emphasised the urgency of completing the first phase of the US peace initiative, specifically calling for unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, expedited formation of the administrative committee tasked with running the enclave, and rapid deployment of the proposed international stabilisation force.
He also called for an immediate halt to Israeli violations in the occupied West Bank, stressing that these actions are essential to contain escalating tensions and lay the groundwork for lasting regional security and stability.
Addressing the broader geopolitical situation, Abdel-Aati called for immediate de-escalation across the region, urging all parties to prioritise diplomacy and dialogue.
He highlighted the importance of adhering to the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, and urged a return to negotiations to secure a comprehensive final agreement.
Concluding the meeting, Abdel-Aati briefed his Dutch counterpart on Egypt’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to curb regional volatility, stressing that coordinated international action is critical to prevent severe economic, security, and geostrategic fallout for both the Middle East and the wider international community.
During another meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić, FM Abdel-Aati reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening Egyptian-Serbian relations and expanding co-operation in the economic, trade, and investment sectors.
During the meeting, they also exchanged views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Both sides underscored the importance of maintaining close coordination and consultations to further enhance the bilateral partnership and deliver tangible results that advance the interests of Egypt and Serbia.
