Blinken hands Egypt copies of old letters of recognition of independence, sovereignty as gift

CAIRO – 13 April 2022: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken handed Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry two official letters as a gift from the US represented in two letters during Shoukry’s current visit to Washington.

The gift, handed in commemoration of the centennial of Egypt-US ties, includes a letter of recognition of Egypt’s independence and a letter from then-US State Secretary Charles Hughes to congratulate Egypt’s former Prime Minister Abdel Khalek Sarwat Pasha on independence.

This is in addition to a document to establish the relations between the two countries directed at the time by then-US President Warren Harding to late King Ahmed Fouad of Egypt.

Shoukry met earlier on Wednesday with Blinken, during which he affirmed the need to address human rights within a comprehensive approach that takes into account the peculiarity of communities.

Shoukry affirmed the need for Egypt and the US to maintain cooperation on the basis of mutual respect to enhance capabilities.

Shoukry and Blinken expressed aspiration toward advancing cooperation ties between the two countries during the coming period.

They also agreed on continued coordination to face regional challenges and curb the negative impacts of the crisis taking place in the regional and international surroundings.

During the meeting, Shoukry and Blinken highlighted the existing historic partnership between Egypt and the US that is based on mutual respect, joint interest, and developing political, economic, and cultural ties.

Shoukry urged intensifying coordination between Egypt and the US on bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern, affirming the need to enhance these relations at all levels.

The ministers expressed appreciation for this year as it marks the 100th anniversary of the Egyptian-US relations.

On Tuesday, Shoukry met with representatives of the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington so as the roundtable discussion took place tackling five areas of joint interest.

Those are bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries; developmental leap happening in Egypt; participation of US companies in sustainable development efforts deployed by Egypt, particularly in the sector of clean and renewable energy; Egypt's vision on 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) it is hosting in November; and, the salient role of the private sector in countering climate change. 

Shoukry held two other meetings Tuesday, including one with Ambassador David Thorne, senior advisor to the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate while the other was a roundtable at the Middle East Institute in Washington.

The talk covered Egypt’s strategic ties with the US, Egypt's perception of regional issues and challenges, and Egypt's role on the regional and international levels.