Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty said that Egypt is facing exceptional challenges from all strategic directions, describing them as the most serious in its modern history due to their direct impact on national and regional security. During his participation at Maspero Cultural Salon on Egyptian TV, Abdelatty stated that these threats are broad in scale and complexity, coming amid increasing instability across the Arab region.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdelatty described the situation in Gaza as devastating, stating that from March to July, no aid trucks entered the strip. Current deliveries, he noted, are far below the required 700 trucks per day, barely reaching 200 in the best cases. On the western front, he pointed to Libya's internal divisions and the presence of foreign forces as key factors driving instability, alongside armed militias operating across a 1,200 km shared border with Egypt.
Abdelatty also expressed concern over the prolonged crises in Syria and Lebanon, noting the threats to both states' unity and the challenges facing national institutions. He warned that the Sahel region has turned into a refuge for terrorist groups and organized crime networks. Regarding Sudan, he said the ongoing conflict, foreign interference, and armed militias pose a serious threat to the country's future. He stressed that Egypt is following the situation closely, aware of the potential risks to its own national security.
He also reaffirmed Egypt's firm stance on water security, calling it a matter of existence. 'This is a priority that cannot be compromised, not even for a single drop of water,' he said. Abdelatty said the country is facing challenges from the north in the Mediterranean region as well as issues related to the demarcation of maritime borders, particularly in light of vast hydrocarbon reserves, including natural gas.
"All these challenges are surfacing at the same time," Abdelatty said, "but we should all be reassured, as President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has emphasized, that there is a strong state with robust national institutions that will never allow anyone to undermine its strategic interests, borders, or national security." He highlighted Egypt's wise and prudent leadership.
He pointed out that the guiding principle shaping Egypt's foreign policy is the "principle of strategic balance" established by President El Sisi, which is not just a slogan but a framework of concrete policies and mechanisms for managing foreign relations. He underlined that this principle places the national state and its preservation at the forefront.
Abdelatty noted that the President's concept of the national state extends to the wider Arab and African region, where many states face challenges to their national institutions. The minister stressed the importance of preserving the state and its national institutions, saying this is what Egypt seeks in Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel region.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty affirmed that Egypt is committed to the principles of strategic balance, warning that state sovereignty, non-use of force, and respect for international law are under direct threat amid growing violations in the global system. During his remarks at Maspero Cultural Salon, Abdelatty said that sovereignty is no longer a given in today's world, as foreign interference becomes more frequent under shifting justifications, whether humanitarian, protective of minorities, or simply driven by power.
'We now see blatant interventions without legal or moral grounding,' he said, stressing the urgent need to reaffirm the principle of non-intervention and protect global order. He added that the use of military force in resolving disputes is expanding, with some states exploiting their power to impose agendas and fuel instability. He described this trend as deeply dangerous and said that upholding the UN Charter and international law is the only alternative to descending into chaos.
Abdelatty affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays a central role in implementing Egypt's foreign policy and defending its interests abroad. He described it as 'the first line of defense for national security,' and stressed its coordination with all state institutions under the direction of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He also criticized misinformation campaigns that distort Egypt's role in Gaza. 'There is a deliberate effort to deflect blame from the Israeli occupation by accusing Egypt of closing crossings,' he said. 'The facts are clear, but some refuse to accept them, which raises questions about their motives.'
Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's efforts to support Palestinians and warned against legitimizing false narratives aimed at obscuring the true cause of Gaza's suffering. The top diplomat noted that Egypt's embassies abroad are actively defending national interests, promoting exports, attracting investment, and supporting Egyptians abroad. He also praised Egyptian expatriates for their continued contributions, especially through remittances, which now represent the largest source of foreign currency for the country.
Additionally, Abdelatty outlined new initiatives to improve consular services, including a centralized center near Tahrir Square that will issue all documentation in one place. Digitization, he added, has already sped up many services that once took weeks or months. At the end of the interview, Abdelatty expressed his pride in appearing at the Maspero building, calling it 'a national and regional media icon that helped shape Egyptian and Arab awareness for generations.'