Manila: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty held talks on Thursday, July 23, 2026, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, as well as regional and international developments of mutual concern.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting was held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, where the two ministers stressed the importance of building on the achievements of the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries and expanding cooperation across political, economic and investment fields in a way that serves the interests of both peoples and supports regional security and stability.
Abdelatty highlighted the importance of enhancing trade and investment cooperation, pointing to promising opportunities Egypt offers to attract further US investments. He also expressed Egypt's aspiration to convene the second session of the Joint Economic Commission and host the second edition of the Egyptian-American Economic Forum in Cairo, with the aim of further expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.
Abdelatty also underscored the need to halt Israeli violations in the West Bank, contributing to containing escalation and creating conditions for restoring security and stability in the region. The two sides exchanged views on developments in the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian issue.
The discussions also covered developments related to Iran and efforts to reduce escalation, adhere to the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran, and resume negotiations toward reaching a final agreement. The two ministers further discussed developments in the Horn of Africa, with Abdelatty stressing the importance of preserving regional security and stability, supporting national institutions, respecting states' sovereignty and territorial integrity and rejecting any measures that could undermine regional stability.
Regarding water security, Abdelatty emphasized the importance of adhering to international law governing the use of transboundary water resources, ensuring the interests of all Nile Basin countries and rejecting unilateral actions. Both sides expressed their commitment to maintaining close coordination and consultation in the coming period, reflecting the strength of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States and enhancing their ability to address regional and international challenges.