Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, while visiting South Korea, and his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jae-myung, agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership.
The two heads of state aim to deepen and expand cooperation in the political, defence, economic, cultural, and educational spheres, as well as on major regional and international issues.
This decision was announced in a joint statement released on Thursday, October 8, following Al-Sisi’s visit to South Korea – held from October 7 to 9, 2026, at the invitation of his South Korean
counterpart, Lee Jae-myung.
This visit comes nearly a year after President Lee Jae-myung’s trip to Egypt in November 2025, which marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
As the joint statement highlights, these reciprocal visits by the two leaders demonstrate “the importance Cairo and Seoul attach to their bilateral relations, particularly through the joint commission co-chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries.”
On this occasion, Egypt welcomed the “S.H.I.N.E.” initiative – the Republic of Korea’s policy regarding the Middle East, announced at Cairo University during President Lee’s 2025 visit to Egypt.
For its part, the South Korean side welcomed the “strategic balance” policy pursued by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. Building on the “friendly, privileged, and deeply rooted” relations between the two countries, Egypt and South Korea have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation based on their shared vision of peace and prosperity.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his South Korean counterpart, Sisi emphasised the role of the region’s nations in managing and securing this strategic maritime route.
“Responsibility for Red Sea security and the management of its affairs lies exclusively with the littoral states,” he declared.
Cairo has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to security and stability in the Red Sea, particularly within the framework of diplomatic efforts aimed at fostering de-escalation in the region.
AK/Sf/fss/as/APA