This forum allows discussions to extend beyond the classical security issues and "strengthen the bilateral relationship and deepen economic development, as well as increase people-to-people ties through culture and education,” the US Department of State stated Monday night. 

The first dialogue was launched in 1998 under US President Bill Clinton’s tenure and has been held periodically since then. However, it faced a hiatus from 2009 to 2015 under President Barack Obama’s tenure and following the Arab Spring and Hosni Mubarak ouster. 

As part of this dialogue, the second session of the Egypt-American Joint Economic Commission (JEC), first introduced at the Egypt-US Strategic Dialogue in 2021, took place on 4 September in Washington.

During the upcoming discussions, Egypt is expected to highlight its role as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly its efforts to end the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza.

Cairo will likely press the Biden administration for a more definitive stance on the Israeli army presence at the Egypt-Gaza border and advocate for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Philadelphi corridor (aka Salah Al-Din axis) and Rafah crossing. 

"We are still waiting for an unmistakable US position,” an Egyptian source told Ahram Online. Cairo's position remains unchanged, the source added.

"If the Israelis want to stay, let them stay as an occupying force and assume responsibility for this occupation with all that this includes: the responsibility of feeding the Palestinians in Gaza and assuming the attacks of the resistance, but such a presence will never be within the framework of a new agreement with Cairo," the source said.

Blinken is expected to discuss "the ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza that secures the release of all hostages, alleviates the suffering of the Palestinian people, and helps establish broader regional security," according to the US Department of State. However, Blinken’s trip will not include a stop in Israel this time.

Following their meeting, Abdelatty and Blinken will hold a joint press conference on Wednesday.

Blinken will be in Egypt from 17 to 19 September. Abdelatty will then travel to Washington on 20 September, where an interactive meeting at the Egyptian embassy is scheduled before he heads to New York to attend the UN General Assembly meetings, according to sources in Washington.