Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty held talks on Wednesday in Washington with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focusing on pressing regional developments, primarily the catastrophic situation in Gaza, the escalating conflict in the Sudan, and ongoing concerns in Libya, Syria, Lebanon, and across Africa, as well as Egypt's water security. Abdel-Aty reiterated the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, stressing the importance of protecting Palestinian lives and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid. He condemned Israel's systematic starvation policy and called for swift international response to the worsening humanitarian crisis. The minister emphasised the necessity of a political horizon for a just and sustainable resolution to the Palestinian issue, reaffirming the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state based on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He expressed Egypt's keenness to continue working closely with the Trump administration to achieve a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East that serves the interests of all peoples in the region. On the Sudan, the two ministers discussed the need for a ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Abdel-Aty reaffirmed Egypt's support for the Sudan's state institutions and underscored the importance of upholding the country's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Regarding water security, Abdel-Aty briefed his US counterpart on Egypt's concerns over the River Nile and the need to adhere to international law governing shared water resources. He stressed the urgency of reaching a legally binding agreement on the operation of the Ethiopian dam and rejected Ethiopia's unilateral actions. Abdel-Aty asserted that Egypt would take all measures permitted under international law to safeguard its water security. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
