US provides Egypt $ 50 M in aid to address food security situation: White House

CAIRO – 16 July 2022: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his US counterpart Joe Biden agreed that they would hold a bilateral meeting in the near future to “further enhance the two countries’ multi-faceted partnership,” said the White House on Saturday in a statement.

Both Presidents held a bilateral summit on the sideline of Jeddah regional summit with the United States on Saturday.

President Biden said that his country is providing $1 billion in new assistance to address the food security situation in the Middle East, with $50 million specifically for Egypt.

“These funds aim to bolster food security and offset the effects of the disruption in agricultural supply chains and higher food prices due to the blocking of ports.  President Biden assured President Al Sisi that the United States will advocate for Egypt and its food security needs,” the

They “reaffirm their shared commitment to the U.S.-Egypt strategic partnership, consult on a broad range of global and regional security challenges, and advance the U.S.-Egypt relationship” the statement read.

It has been agreed by the two leaders to renewed their commitment to the U.S.-Egypt Strategic Dialogue co-chaired by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, the statement continued.

“Both Presidents affirmed their commitment to cooperate on counter-terrorism and welcomed the notable achievements of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.  President Al Sisi expressed Egypt’s appreciation for military equipment and security assistance from the United States,” the statement read.

They also tackled ways of enhancing the bilateral relations, particularly in technology and climate change fields, the statement said.

“The United States and Egypt underlined that peace, security and a multilateral, rules-based order lie at the heart of their longstanding partnership.  Recalling the March 2nd and March 24th United Nations General Assembly resolutions on Ukraine, which both voted in favor of, they reaffirmed their shared principles enshrined in the UN Charter, including the respect for international law, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty,” the statement said.

Both leaders shared particular concerns over the repercussions of  the war in Ukraine, “including on global supply chains and energy and commodity prices.  For example, the blockading of Black Sea ports has triggered rising food insecurity and levied significant economic pressures on Egypt,” the statement continued.

The two countries also stressed on the two-state solution between the Palestinians and Israelis. The US President also expressed his country’ssupport for Egypt’s vital leadership and historic role in promoting peace and an end to the conflict.

Regarding the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, “President Biden reiterated U.S. support for Egypt’s water security and to forging a diplomatic resolution that would achieve the interests of all parties and contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous region.  The two leaders reiterated the imperative of concluding an agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD without further delay as stipulated in the Statement of the President of the United Nations Security Council dated September 15, 2021, and in accordance with international law,” the statement continued.

Both leaders also discussed other regional issues in Yemen, Libya, and Syria, besides the COP 27 conference due to convene in Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh on November 6-18.