This came during a phone call between Abdelatty and his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

FM Abdelatty stressed the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, along with unconditional humanitarian aid and relief delivery.

He also commended Sweden's significant humanitarian contribution to supporting the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and voiced strong disapproval of Israeli actions that undermine the organization’s efforts.

Egypt’s top diplomat reaffirmed that peace, security, and stability can only be realized through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Moreover, Abdelatty detailed Egypt's efforts to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon and the ongoing discussions with regional and international partners, highlighting the necessity of fully implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and supporting Lebanese institutions.

He also reiterated Cairo's condemnation of the Israeli army's attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Abdelatty stressed the importance of electing a consensus president in Lebanon to resolve the presidential vacuum issue without external interference.

Egypt has repeatedly urged for the de-escalation of the conflict to prevent the region from descending into a full-scale war, posing serious risks to the security of all countries and peoples in the area.

Water issue
 

During the call, Abdelatty raised the issue of Egyptian water security, underscoring its critical importance to Cairo.

Cairo has reaffirmed that protecting the Nile River is an existential issue, asserting that Egypt is not a “helpless nation” and possesses a clear vision and strategies to address any adverse effects of the Ethiopian dam on the country.

Egypt is experiencing serious water scarcity challenges and concerns that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) would affect its water quota.

As one of the most water-scarce countries globally, Egypt has an annual water allocation of only 500 cubic metres per person, while the UN classifies water scarcity as occurring at double that amount.

Sudanese crisis

The foreign minister also addressed the fast-changing situation in Sudan, clarifying Egypt's stance on the crisis, which focuses on upholding Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, preserving its state institutions, and facilitating swift access to humanitarian assistance.

Regarding bilateral relations, Abdelatty highlighted the significance of strengthening economic ties and capitalizing on investment opportunities in Egypt, particularly in promising sectors, such as energy, while fostering cooperation between the private sectors of both countries.

Additionally, Abdelatty expressed Egypt's intention to hold the second session of the Egyptian-Swedish Business Forum in Cairo, building on the success of the inaugural session in Stockholm in 2023.