Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdel-Aati met Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi in Riyadh on Monday, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, the fifth leg of his Arab tour.
During the meeting, Minister Abdel-Aati reiterated Egypt’s unwavering support for Gulf states’ security, which he said is a pillar and an integral part of Egypt’s national security.
He also stressed Egypt’s full solidarity with GCC countries in facing regional security challenges, as well as Cairo’s rejection of any threats or external interference that undermine their sovereignty or the resources of their peoples, according to a statement on the foreign ministry website on Tuesday.
The talks addressed the rapidly evolving developments in the region. In this respect, Minister Abdel-Aati warned of the catastrophic consequences of continued military escalation. He underlined the necessity of intensifying efforts to de-escalate tensions and prioritise diplomatic solutions to prevent the region from sliding into widespread chaos.
Egypt’s top diplomat also highlighted the importance of continued close coordination between Egypt and the GCC countries to contain successive crises and mitigate risks to Arab national security.
Meanwhile, Abdel-Aati emphasised the need to enhance economic and investment co-operation between Egypt and GCC countries, referring to the importance of building on the success of the first Egypt-GCC Trade and Investment Forum, held in Cairo in November 2025.
For his part, the GCC Secretary-General highly appreciated Egypt’s pivotal role as a cornerstone of stability in the Arab region, lauding Cairo’s sustained diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and defend the interests of Arab states across international forums.
