Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdel-Aati said that Egypt remains committed to firm positions on the region’s major crises, including rejecting Israeli violations against Palestinians, preserving Syria’s territorial integrity, supporting Libya’s unity and institutions, rejecting efforts to divide Somalia and pushing for an end to the war in Sudan.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in El Alamein on Thursday, Abdel-Aati said their talks covered a range of regional crises amid unprecedented challenges facing the region and the world.
He stressed that cooperation between Egypt and Türkiye represents an important pillar for strengthening regional security and stability.
Abdel-Aati reiterated Egypt’s complete rejection of Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and stressed the importance of Israel fully implementing the commitments under US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza.
He said military solutions would not achieve security or stability in the region.Fidan said Türkiye was working closely with Egypt on the Palestinian issue and Gaza to achieve peace, describing the situation of Palestinians in the Strip as a tragedy.
He rejected all attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land and called on the United States to pressure Israel to implement the Gaza peace plan.
He also stressed the importance of moving to the plan’s second phase.Regarding Syria, Abdel-Aati condemned Israeli violations of Syrian territory and stressed that preserving Syria’s territorial integrity is essential to regional stability.
On Libya, he called for the withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries, the unification of Libyan institutions and preservation of the country’s territorial integrity.
He said Egypt and Türkiye were working together to unify Libyan institutions and reach a political solution that guarantees Libya’s unity and stability.
Fidan said Ankara shared Egypt’s position, stressing that Libya’s unity and stability are important to the entire region.
Abdel-Aati reaffirmed Egypt’s rejection of any plans to divide Somalia and stressed Cairo’s commitment to the country’s unity and territorial integrity.
On Sudan, he called for an immediate ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian aid to all parts of the country and an inclusive political process.
He also stressed the need to halt arms supplies to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and preserve Sudan’s unity.
Fidan said Türkiye was working with Egypt and regional partners to ease the suffering of the Sudanese people, stressing that Ankara and Cairo share the same position on the need to end the war.
Abdel-Aati said Egypt-Türkiye cooperation is a key pillar of regional security and stability, noting growing bilateral economic and trade relations.
Trade between the two countries has reached around $9 billion, he said, expressing the two countries’ ambition to raise it to $15 billion in the coming years.
He called for greater joint investment, making better use of the free trade agreement, and encouraging economic forums, specialised exhibitions and business delegations.
Fidan said bilateral relations were gaining momentum and that Türkiye sought to further develop economic ties with Egypt.
On defence cooperation, Abdel-Aati said defence agreements require legal and constitutional consideration, adding that Egypt had been informed in advance about the defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
Fidan described the agreement as historic and said it was not directed against any party.
He expressed hope that Egypt would join it, while noting growing Turkish-Egyptian cooperation in defence industries and Ankara’s interest in strengthening cooperation with Cairo in the Eastern Mediterranean.
