Egypt and the United States will celebrate the centenary of their diplomatic relations next year.
The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1922, which opened up wide horizons for co-operation.
Cairo and Washington enjoy a strong partnership in all fields. They look forward to cementing this partnership even more in the coming period, including in the economic domain and the commercial one.
They also stand a major chance to expand their cultural relations, co-operation in consular affairs, human rights, and security.
The two countries’ partnership is based on mutual interests, including in regional peace, stability and security.
The US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue which took place in Washington earlier this month was a milestone in bilateral relations.
It proved the uniqueness of relations between the two countries.
In this interview with US Ambassador in Cairo, Jonathan R. Cohen, the Egyptian Mail explores all aspects of relations between the two countries as well as the importance of the strategic dialogue between them.
Environmental co-operation
Egypt will host COP27. This event, for Egypt to demonstrate leadership and show the world the great progress it made in renewable energy and developing the green economy.
He added that the gathering would also be a good chance for people who want to invest in the green economy to meet and talk.
“We are very glad that Egypt will host COP27,” Ambassador Cohen said. “Next year will be a real moment of opportunity.”
In their strategic dialogue, Egypt and the US reaffirmed their shared commitment to broadening and deepening bilateral economic and commercial co-operation.
The two countries, he added, also vowed to co-operate closely on climate issues.
They also shared ideas on increasing investments in their respective economies, providing more opportunities for their peoples, and addressing the climate crisis.
The US welcomed Egypt’s nomination by the African Union to host COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh and provide leadership as the incoming COP27 presidency in advancing global climate ambitions.
“The US commended Egypt on its progress in developing green energy and its intentions to pursue ambitious climate targets,” the US ambassador said. “Washington and Cairo also launched a high-level joint economic commission.”
The ambassador noted that the two countries also formed the Joint Climate Working Group and unveiled plans for a green economy trade mission.
The two countries also witnessed the launch of a new USAID trade reform programme.
Both sides also planned to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Export-Import Bank of the United States, on one hand, and the Egyptian Ministry of Finance, on the other.
Promising entrepreneurial scene
“Based on what I saw in the past two years, I can say the Egyptian entrepreneurial scene is growing, dynamic, creative, energetic, and full of committed people who will make a difference,” Ambassador Cohen said.
“These people are the real engine for economic progress in this country,” he added.
Ambassador Cohen said his country supports entrepreneurship, in general, and He said his embassy launched a series of programmes in the past period, including the Meet Silicon Valley programme, through which promising Egyptian entrepreneurs are sent to California to meet their American counterparts who can show them how they set up ecosystems in this American state.
“They can bring back what they see and what they learn so that they can recreate such ecosystems in Egypt,” Ambassador Cohen said.
He added that his embassy also sponsored recently a full week of entrepreneurship that was full of workshops, including online ones, where hundreds of Egyptian entrepreneurs participated.
He noted that his embassy staff works with a number of ‘great’ entrepreneurial groups.
“In the time I have been here, I visited and supported events, both in Cairo and Alexandria,” Ambassador Cohen said.
The US embassy sent a number of entrepreneurs, not just to the US, but to other parts of the region to help them develop their skills and realise their potential.
“A big part of the economy in the future all over the world is going to be entrepreneurial,” the ambassador said.
Human rights
Egypt has launched recently its National Human Rights Strategy. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi considered the strategy a ‘milestone’ in Egypt’s efforts to improve human rights conditions in it.
Ambassador Cohen said that as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry noted during the strategic dialogue in Washington, Egypt and the US held a constructive dialogue on human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“This dialogue included civil and political rights, freedom of expression, fighting racism, women’s empowerment, and economic, social, and cultural rights,” Ambassador Cohen said.
He added that the dialogue also covered human rights in multilateral forums.
Egypt, for its part, welcomed the election of the US to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The US welcomed Egypt’s National Human Rights Strategy, and national plans to advance human rights in it in co-operation with the civil society.
“The two sides also agreed to maintain their dialogue on human rights,” the US ambassador said.
GERD Negotiations
Ambassador Cohen said his country had expressed appreciation of Egypt’s leadership in mediating solutions to regional conflicts, notably in promoting peace and ending violence in Gaza.
He added that the US also reiterated its support to Egypt’s water security.
“The US and Egypt called for the resumption of negotiations to reach a deal on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) under the auspices of the African Union and in line with the Presidential Statement of the UN Security Council on September 15, 2021, and the 2015 Declaration of Principles,” Ambassador Cohen said.
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