Egypt signs Charter of Arab, African States bordering the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden

CAIRO - 7 January 2020: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry signed Monday the Charter of the Council of Arab and African States bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in Riyadh, said the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.

This came in a meeting held for the foreign ministers of Arab and African countries.

“We are in an urgent need to reinforce our troops to face the challenges and risks that surround us,” Al Ain newspaper quoted Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud during the meeting.

في إطار اجتماع وزراء خارجية الدول العربية والأفريقية المُطلة على البحر الأحمر وخليج عدن...وزير الخارجية #سامح_شكري يوقع على ميثاق تأسيس مجلس الدول العربية والأفريقية المُطلة على البحر الأحمر وخليج عدن. pic.twitter.com/TI8ontVm2m

— Egypt MFA Spokesperson (@MfaEgypt) January 6, 2020

"On the sidelines of the meeting, Shoukry held a bilateral meeting with his Saudi counterpart, where they discussed bilateral relations and recent developments of regional and international issues," said Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Hafez in a statement on his official Twitter account.

على هامش اجتماع وزراء خارجية الدول العربية والأفريقية المُطلة على البحر الأحمر وخليج عدن...#وزير_الخارجية_شكري يلتقي نظيره السعودي #الأمير_فيصل_بن_فرحان_آل_سعود، وذلك لبحث مجالات التعاون المُشترك والتطورات المُتسارعة التي تشهدها المنطقة.@FaisalbinFarhan@KSAMOFA pic.twitter.com/Po8wqOmVAe

— Egypt MFA Spokesperson (@MfaEgypt) January 6, 2020

The council includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia and Jordan.

Following signing the charter, Saudi Monarch King Salman Bin Abdelazizi congratulated the state members on signing the new charter.

#Riyadh | @KingSalman congratulated the establishment of the Council of the Arab and African countries of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and the signing of the Charter of the Council pic.twitter.com/NFkjbBJlSj

— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) January 6, 2020

The United Arab Emirates welcomed the formation of thec, saying in a statement that the new council will enhance stability, cooperation, and coordination between the seven Arab and African countries bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

“The ministry expressed its appreciation of Saudi Arabia's diplomatic efforts, adding that the Kingdom played a pivotal role in the formation of the Council of Arab and African States Bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden," the UAE Foreign Ministry added in the statement.