Cairo, Egypt – Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty received Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General’s Personal Representative for Southern Neighbourhood Affairs, on Tuesday. The meeting addressed ways to enhance cooperation and exchange views on the escalating security challenges and threats in the region.
Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained that Minister Abdel-Aty commended the existing level of cooperation between Egypt and NATO. He also welcomed the activation of new partnership programs, emphasizing the importance of building upon the achievements of the past period. The Minister highlighted several priority areas of cooperation, including holding the first round of the joint dialogue on counterterrorism. He also mentioned organizing a specialized workshop on mine clearance, as well as strengthening capacity building in the areas of cybersecurity and addressing the repercussions of climate change. Furthermore, he called for expanding cooperation between NATO and the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, particularly with regard to countering extremist ideology in the Sahel region of Africa.
On the regional level, the Foreign Minister reviewed Egypt’s efforts to move to the second phase of the ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip. He explained that the Egyptian vision is based on forming a temporary Palestinian technocratic committee to manage daily affairs in the Strip, in addition to activating the international stabilization force in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2803.
Regarding the Horn of Africa, Abdel-Aty reiterated Egypt’s unequivocal condemnation of Israel’s recognition of the so-called “Somaliland,” describing the move as a blatant violation of international law and Somali sovereignty. He also warned that such unilateral actions would destabilize the security and stability of the Red Sea and Horn of Africa region and threaten regional balance.
