Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi will hold talks with his American counterpart Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations, counter-terrorism efforts and a number of regional files, mainly peace in the Middle East and the situation in each of Syria, Libya and Yemen.
Presidency spokesperson Bassam Rady said Sisi’s visit is part of a series of meetings between the two leaders aimed at bolstering bilateral relations, achieving strategic interests and resuming dialogue on regional issues.
A report prepared by Egypt’s State Information Service revealed that Tuesday’s summit is the sixth since Sisi assumed his position as the president and that it was his second trip to Washington.
Sisi first visited the US in September 2014 when he attended the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
According to the White House, the two presidents are expected to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between Washington and Cairo and building on their robust military, economic and counter-terrorism cooperation.
The two leaders will also tackle developments and shared priorities in the region, and addressing ongoing conflicts, and Egypt’s longstanding role as a lynchpin of regional stability.
The Egyptian-US summit will hold great importance because it is taking place after the US decision to recognize Israel's territorial claim to the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, almost a year after Washington also officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Egypt categorically opposes both decisions.
The visit also comes one day after the US administration’s plan to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, including its Quds Force, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Sisi’s visit and his talks with Trump come as part of the positive atmosphere between Cairo and Washington, especially after the two countries overcame the most disputed issues in their relations.
