US diplomat praises ‘enduring bonds’ with Egypt

An American diplomat has praised what he described as ‘enduring bonds’ with Egypt, pointing to joint Egyptian-American action for the promotion of peace and stability in the region.
“Our two nations have stood side by side in times of peace and challenge, working hand in hand to promote stability, prosperity, and progress in the Middle East and beyond,” American Charge d’affaires in Egypt, John P. Desrocherr, said.
“One of the fundamental pillars of this partnership is the regular exchange of high-level visits between our leaders,” he added late on Monday during a celebration by the US Embassy in Egypt of the 247th anniversary of the adoption of the Independence Declaration of the US.
Mr Desrocherr said these visits symbolise the value both countries place on open communication and collaboration, leading to enhanced co-operation in many domains.
He said this cooperation covers a wide range of fields, including the economic development, security, and cultural exchange fields.
He referred to visits made to Egypt in the past period by a large number of US senior officials, including President Joe Biden; Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, and First Lady Jill Biden.
These visits, Mr Desrocherr said, underscore Egypt’s pivotal role in the region.
“These high-level visits – along with those of business, academic, and cultural leaders – communicate to the world that a robust relationship exists between our countries,” the US diplomat said.
“However, what often goes unnoticed is the daily effort exerted by the US Mission in Egypt to sustain and improve this relationship for the benefit of both nations,” he added.
He noted that from strengthening the military partnership to fostering economic opportunities and cultural exchange programmes, as well as safeguarding Egypt’s precious cultural heritage, the staff of the mission tirelessly works to promote the bilateral relationship.
Mr Desrocherr also referred to the efforts the mission makes to create programmes and facilitate opportunities for Egyptian professionals to engage in various academic exchanges in the US.
“These programmes have proven to be invaluable platforms for professionals to delve into crucial areas, such as environmental protection, renewable energy, agricultural modelling, and promoting justice and inclusion,” he said.
“We also work to strengthen our security, with the US and Egyptian militaries conducting over 60 trainings and other exchanges since 2022,” he added.
He said the US made substantial investments in promoting education in Egypt, including through the construction of countless schools and providing teacher training.
Over $1.8 billion have been spent on education to date, according to him.
Mr Desrocherr also highlighted the Egyptian Red Sea Initiative which was launched by the US Mission through USAID at COP27.
The initiative, he said, aims to conserve Egypt’s coastal ecosystem, while promoting sustainable ecotourism so that Egyptians and tourists alike can continue to enjoy the Red Sea.
“The work between our two countries to make sure that stolen artefacts are returned is just one example of the US’s commitment to preserving Egypt’s history,” Mr Desrocherr said.
“We and the thousands of Americans who travel to Egypt every year respect this country’s magnificent cultural heritage and we are proud of that,” he added.