Manama: Abdel Fattah El Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, met with John Ratcliffe, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States of America. The meeting was attended by Hassan Rashad, Chief of the Intelligence Service of Egypt.
According to Bahrain News Agency, President El Sisi affirmed Egypt's full support for efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement to end the Iranian crisis, which would contribute to restoring security and stability in the region and ensuring freedom of international maritime navigation. The Egyptian President stressed Egypt's firm position in support of the sovereignty of Arab states and its rejection of any attacks against them.
The meeting discussed means to strengthen the strategic partnership and the existing level of security and intelligence coordination and cooperation between Cairo and Washington in the fields of counterterrorism and organised crime, as well as developments in regional issues of mutual concern.
Ambassador Mohamed El Shennawy, Egyptian presidential spokesman, said the talks addressed developments in the Palestinian issue. President El Sisi stressed the need for the full implementation of the second phase of US President Donald Trump's plan to consolidate the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and ensure the sufficient and sustained flow of humanitarian aid, leading to the launch of a political horizon for a just and comprehensive settlement based on the two-state solution and international legitimacy resolutions. The US official commended Egypt's effective mediation efforts.
The meeting also addressed developments in Sudan and the Horn of Africa. The Egyptian side reiterated its commitment to preserving Sudan's territorial unity and legitimate institutions, supporting the stability of Somalia and rejecting any infringement of its sovereignty. The CIA director affirmed his country's commitment to continued coordination with Egypt to safeguard international maritime security and address geopolitical challenges in the region.