Cairo:Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres during his visit to Egypt on October 26, 2026, coinciding with United Nations Day celebrations. The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation and addressing regional and international developments, with an emphasis on de-escalating tensions and resolving conflicts.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Guterres praised Egypt's crucial role in supporting United Nations efforts both regionally and internationally. He acknowledged Egypt's active contributions to conflict resolution and the promotion of peace and stability, highlighting its significance as a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East and a key partner in multilateral actions.
Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to UN reforms aimed at improving efficiency and responsiveness. He emphasized that these reforms should be comprehensive, grounded in international law, and fully owned by member states, while addressing the concerns of developing countries. He also advocated for reforms in the UN Security Council to ensure fair representation for Africa, following the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
The Egyptian foreign minister called on the UN to play a central role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, addressing the debt crisis, and reforming the international financial system. He stressed the importance of making climate finance available and aligning efforts with developing countries' priorities to enhance their development capacity.
Abdelatty also highlighted Egypt's initiative on climate-related loss and damage launched at the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) and the Borrowers' Platform to coordinate developing countries' positions on debt challenges. He addressed the latest regional escalation and its implications, urging for continued consultations and international coordination to contain tensions, prioritize diplomacy, and address food security concerns.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip was also discussed, with Abdelatty outlining Egypt's efforts to ensure humanitarian aid access. He stressed the importance of the UN agency's role in its five operational fields.
Additionally, Abdelatty reviewed developments in Sudan, emphasizing the need to preserve the country's unity and sovereignty, and highlighted Egypt's stance on the Libyan crisis, advocating for a comprehensive political settlement to maintain Libya's unity and national institutions.