Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi received Michael Corella, the Commander of the US Central Command, in Cairo on Monday, to discuss ways to advance military and security cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting also dealt with cooperation in the areas of combating terrorism, joint training programmes and border security, and the latest developments regarding a number of crises and files in the region, especially the security of the Red Sea.
According to a statement from the presidency spokesperson Bassam Rady, the two sides agreed to continue regular bilateral consultation and coordination between the two countries, on issues of common interest.
During the meeting, President Al-Sisi stressed the importance of joint military cooperation within the framework of the extended strategic relations between Egypt and the United States, which represent a fundamental pillar for maintaining peace and security in the Middle East.
He mentioned that the current circumstances in the region require concerted efforts to confront the challenges that threaten security and stability, foremost of which is terrorism, which requires making collective efforts to combat it.
Moreover, the president reviewed Egypt’s efforts on the axes and strategic directions to eradicate terrorism from its roots.
For his part, the US Commander stressed his keenness for Egypt to be the first stop of his foreign visits to the region since taking office, and stressing the full US solidarity with Egypt in its efforts to combat terrorism.
Corella further affirmed that US administration’s reliance on the active and pivotal Egyptian role in the Middle East and North Africa. He also offered condolences to the president for the victims of the armed forces who were killed as a result of the terrorist attack that took place recently in a water-pumping station east of South Canal.
Minister of Defence Mohamed Zaki, the Head of the US Military Cooperation Office, Political Adviser to the Commander of the US Central Command, and the US Chargé d’Affairs in Cairo attended the meeting.
