US CENTCOM commander visits Cairo, meets Sisi, Defense min.

CAIRO – 12 June 2019: Commander of the United States Central Command (US CENTCOM) Kenneth F. McKenzie discussed Tuesday the Egyptian-American relations with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense Mohamed Zaki.

Presidential spokesperson Bassam Radi said in a Tuesday statement that McKenzie stressed on the important and strategic relations between Washington and Cairo, especially on the military level.




He added that the bilateral military cooperation between the two countries is considered one of the main reasons security and stability in the MENA region are preserved through fighting terrorism and extremism. McKenzie asserted that Egypt plays a key role in combating terrorism, adding that fighting terrorism is the main challenge of our modern world.

The meeting also tackled a number of the Middle East political conflicts and the Egyptian-American role in resolving these conflicts.





President Sisi and US President Donald Trump met several times on several occasions, as they exchanged official visits.



Last April, Sisi held with President Trump the sixth summit in the United States.
The visit came as part of a series of meetings between both leaders to enhance bilateral relations in a way to achieve strategic interests and continue the dialogue on regional issues, according to Radi.

Here is a timeline of Sisi’s visits to the United States:

September 2014: First visit
The first visit took place three months after Sisi assumed his position as the president of Egypt. He then participated in the 69th Summit of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where he gave an official speech.
The visit was ahead of Trump’s election to US presidency.
September 2015: Second visit
The second visit by President Sisi to the United States came during his participation in the 70th Summit of the United Nations General Assembly.

September 2016: Third visit
During the third visit, President Sisi headed to the United States to take part in the 71st Summit of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. He participated in summits and meetings concerning climate change, peace in Africa and refugees.

April 2017: Fourth visit
This is was the first time President Sisi visits Washington D.C. after he assumed post, where he held an Egyptian-American summit at the White House with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.

September 2017: Fifth visit
Both presidents Sisi and Trump met in New York City on the sidelines of the 72nd Summit of the United Nations General Assembly, where they discussed several regional and international issues, including ways of reviving the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.

September 2018: Sixth visit
This visit has witnessed the fifth summit between both leaders on the sidelines of the 73rd Summit of the United Nations General Assembly. Bilateral discussions tackled the situation in Libya, Syria and Yemen, in addition to the Palestinian cause.