President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi receives Pakistani Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Sahir Shamshad Mirza in New Alamein City. Photo: Egyptian presidency
General Abdel Mageed Saqr, commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces and minister of defence and military production, also attended the meetings, which took place in New Alamein City, according to the Egyptian presidency.
Egypt-Pakistan military cooperation
During his meeting with Mirza, President El-Sisi commended the positive momentum in the two countries’ bilateral relations.
The meeting explored ways to enhance cooperation, particularly in the military and security fields, and the exchange of expertise in combating terrorism and extremism, reflecting the shared strategic interests between Egypt and Pakistan.
El-Sisi and Mirza also addressed the latest developments in the Middle East, particularly Egypt’s efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
They stressed the urgency for the international community to bear the responsibility of ending the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and ensuring the delivery of aid to starving Palestinians.
Both sides also affirmed the need to expand the recognition of an independent Palestinian state as the guarantee for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.
Moreover, they discussed the latest developments in South Asia and efforts to promote regional stability, which would contribute to the growth and prosperity of its peoples.
The meeting was attended by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Egypt Aamer Shaukat and Senior Staff Officer at the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Muhammad Rashid Khan.
On Tuesday, the Pakistani military official met with the Egyptian defence minister in Cairo, where they discussed ways to strengthen military, defence, and security cooperation.
Egyptian-Italian relations
According to the Egyptian presidency, Italian Ambassador to Egypt Michele Quaroni also attended the meeting between El-Sisi and Crosetto.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation between Egypt and Italy in various fields.
Both sides also discussed fostering cooperation in the military and security fields to consolidate the strategic bilateral relations and advance common interests between Egypt and Italy amid the ongoing regional and global challenges.
The presidency added that El-Sisi emphasized the importance of strengthening the momentum in bilateral relations between both nations.
For his part, the Italian defence minister expressed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s appreciation for the historical relations between Rome and Cairo.
Additionally, they exchanged views on the latest developments in Gaza, highlighting Egypt's efforts to reach a ceasefire.
President El-Sisi and the Italian minister reaffirmed their rejection of the displacement of Palestinians from their land.
They also stressed the urgency of reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, ending the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people exacerbated by the famine, securing the release of captives and detainees, and commencing the reconstruction process in Gaza.
El-Sisi and Crosetto further underscored the importance of implementing the two-state solution by establishing an independent Palestinian state as the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region, the Egyptian presidency said.
Additionally, they discussed other crises in the Middle East, expressing their support for peace efforts and highlighting the need to consolidate regional security and stability while preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country.
They also explored ways to strengthen cooperation between Egypt and Italy in the field of migration and combating irregular migration.
For his part, Crosetto expressed Italy’s appreciation for the Egyptian authorities’ efforts in this regard, highlighting the ongoing coordination between both countries’ relevant authorities.
He also praised the Egyptian efforts that have resulted in stopping the departure of any boats carrying irregular migrants from the Egyptian coast to Europe since 2016.
The meeting further underscored Italy's strategy for opening up to Africa, which aims to enhance development and cooperation.
President El-Sisi and Crosetto explored opportunities for Egypt to engage in implementing joint projects with the Italian side.
Short link: