US prepared to help Egypt resolve GERD crisis diplomatically: CENTCOM commander

CAIRO – 10 February 2022: US Central Command Commander Kenneth McKenzie said Washington is ready to help Egypt with all possible means to resolve the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis diplomatically.

In exclusive remarks with Editor-in-Chief of Ahram Online Ezzat Ibrahim, McKenzie said the US is committed to a diplomatic solution to the GERD issue.

He highlighted President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s approach, saying he has been “very statesman-like” toward GERD crisis.

“I believe that President El-Sisi has actually been very statesman-like in his approach to this problem, seeking to avoid military action, and instead, finding a way to negotiate a settlement that all parties can actually live with,” McKenzie said.

He added that the US is ready to help in the future bring all parties together.

Relations with Egypt

On the relations with Egypt, McKenzie said he discussed during his current visit to Egypt the bilateral relations as he met with Egyptian Minister of Defense Mohamed Zaki.

“We talked about the enduring strategic nature of the relationship between the US and Egypt and how important Egypt is to the US and the US Central Command,” McKenzie said.

He hailed Egypt as the historical and cultural center of the Arab world, saying the long history of cooperation between Egypt and the US is very important for the US.

He also praised his discussions with Egyptian leaders as “frank, straightforward, and cordial”.

Countering ‘new threats’

During his interview with Ahram Online, McKenzie said the US is committed to supporting Egypt in building capabilities in face of “new threats”.

He added that some parties in the region, who act like friends to Egypt, in fact work against Egypt, highlighting the necessity that Egypt is prepared to counter new threats and cyberattacks.

He also underscored Egypt’s efforts to control maritime security in the Suez Canal, the renowned international trade route, hailing it as a “one of the world’s great treasures”.

He added that it is in everybody’s interest that Egypt maintains safe passage in the canal, noting that partners worldwide depend on Suez Canal’s security.