Egypt’s president, Saudi crown prince urge de-escalatory steps in Gaza, Lebanon

CAIRO – 16 October 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, have called for the commencement of de-escalatory steps in both Gaza and Lebanon, including a ceasefire.

The two leaders made the remarks as the Saudi crown prince made an official visit to Cairo on Tuesday, where he discussed with the president bilateral relations and regional challenges.

During their meeting at Al-Ittihadiya Palace, they called for addressing worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza and Lebanon, halting brinkmanship policies, and hindering the expanding cycle of conflict.

Furthermore, they stressed the importance of respecting Lebanon's sovereignty, security, stability, and territorial integrity.

As they addressed regional developments, Sisi and bin Salman underlined the necessity of halting escalation.

They highlighted the need for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, in accordance with international legitimacy, as the only way to achieve sustainable calm, peace, and security in the region.

They stressed that attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause will lead to the continuation of conflict in the region.

Additionally, the leaders discussed several regional issues, including the security of the Red Sea region, as well as the situations in Sudan, Libya, and Syria.

‘PIVOTAL TIES AMID REGIONAL THREATS’

The two leaders held a bilateral meeting that was followed by an expanded discussion attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and the delegations of the two countries.

Sisi stressed the deep and pivotal strategic relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, especially in light of the regional threats. He emphasized the importance of continuing joint coordination and cooperation to overcome the current critical stage that the region and Islamic world are going through.

During their meeting, the leaders witnessed the signing of an agreement to establish a supreme Egyptian-Saudi coordination council co-chaired by them, along with a mutual investment encouragement and protection agreement between the two countries.

The president noted the mutual keenness of Egypt and Saudi Arabia to enhance their historical relations by strengthening bilateral institutional mechanisms, especially through the launch of the supreme coordination council to follow up on various aspects of bilateral relations and ensure their continuous development.

For his part, the Saudi crown prince conveyed the greetings of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, stressing the importance the Kingdom attaches to strengthening bilateral relations with Egypt.

Bin Salman also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to continue building on the historical ties between the two countries and brotherly peoples to achieve common interests at various political, economic and developmental levels.

The meeting discussed ongoing efforts to develop the Egyptian-Saudi economic partnership, especially in investment and trade, as well as economic integration in energy, transportation and tourism.

GROWING INVESTMENTS

The crown prince made his last official visit to Egypt in 2022. Meanwhile, Sisi met with bin Salman in November last year on the sidelines of the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit held in Riyadh to discuss the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

Bin Salman’s visit yesterday came amid unprecedented regional tensions as well as huge investment prospects between the two countries.

Last September, the crown prince received Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, announcing that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) will pump $5 billion worth of investments in Egypt as part of an “initial stage.”

Madbouly said later that these planned investments will be in projects that will be decided jointly later in prominent economic sectors.