Abdelatty says Intensive efforts vital to avoid regional escalation in meeting with Blinken

CAIRO – 26 September 2024: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the critical importance of ramping up efforts to avert escalation and forestall the region from descending into war during discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Abdelatty and Blinken convened on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The ministers commended the advancements made in bilateral relations following the recent joint strategic dialogue held in Cairo.

They reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors for the mutual benefit of their respective countries.

In their previous meeting in the Egyptian capital, Abdelatty and Blinken led the strategic dialogue between Egypt and the US, focusing on collaborative efforts to further Egypt's goals in education, cultural heritage, and tourism.

As part of this dialogue, Blinken announced a US government investment of $129 million in support of shared US-Egyptian priorities, underscoring the commitment to advancing mutual objectives.

Their meeting in Cairo also addressed the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza, which has persisted for almost a year, as well as the escalating situation in Lebanon.

The foreign ministers cautioned that the heightened tensions in Lebanon might disrupt the Hamas-Israel negotiations, where Egypt and the US are both actively involved as mediators, working towards securing a ceasefire in Gaza.