Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has issued a stark call for increased international cooperation, stating that Egypt currently bears an immense responsibility by hosting millions of refugees fleeing regional instability.
During a high-level diplomatic summit in Cairo, Abdelatty characterized the management of these migration flows as a shared global challenge that requires a collective humanitarian and economic response. He specifically called on European partners to move beyond security-focused policies and address the root causes of irregular migration, such as conflict and underdevelopment, while supporting the infrastructure of host nations like Egypt.
The talks aimed to finalize the transition of Egypt-EU relations into a “strategic and comprehensive partnership.” Building on the momentum of the landmark summit held in October 2025, Abdelatty urged European officials to swiftly activate the Egypt-EU Investment Platform. This roadmap seeks to remove trade barriers for Egyptian exports and expand European investment in vital sectors such as energy and education. By strengthening Egypt’s economic resilience, the Minister argued, the country would be better positioned to manage the humanitarian demands of its displaced populations.
Regional security dominated a significant portion of the agenda, with Abdelatty emphasizing Egypt’s unwavering stance on the crisis in Gaza. He insisted on the necessity of the second phase of current agreements, focusing on large-scale reconstruction and a unified Palestinian administration that links the Gaza Strip with the West Bank. Furthermore, he advocated for a larger European role in managing border crossings to ensure the consistent delivery of humanitarian aid, while simultaneously warning against any political maneuvers that undermine Palestinian territorial integrity.
Turning toward the Horn of Africa, the Foreign Minister expressed grave concern over recent geopolitical shifts, specifically rejecting any recognition of Somaliland’s independence as a dangerous threat to state sovereignty. Reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to Somalia’s territorial integrity, he announced Cairo’s participation in the upcoming ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on January 10, 2026. Abdelatty concluded by noting that the ongoing conflicts in Sudan and Yemen remain central to Egypt’s national security interests, reiterating that military solutions are incapable of bringing lasting stability to the region.
MK/ak/ac/fss/abj/APA