Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in Cairo on Sunday to discuss regional developments and bilateral ties, according to Ahram Online. The meeting covered the situation in the Gaza Strip, the conflict in Sudan, developments in the Horn of Africa, and Egypt’s water security concerns. Ahram Online reported that both officials also reviewed ways to strengthen the longstanding strategic partnership between Egypt and the US and to expand cooperation in political and economic fields.
According to the outlet, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tamim Khalaf said the talks reaffirmed close coordination between Cairo and Washington on key regional files. Abdelatty stressed Egypt’s desire to elevate relations with the US into a comprehensive strategic partnership, with particular focus on attracting more American investment and convening the Egyptian–American Economic Forum this year. Landau, for his part, praised Egypt’s role in promoting regional security and stability.
Gaza and regional issues
Ahram Online reported that Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s role in brokering the Israel–Hamas ceasefire agreement signed in Sharm El-Sheikh on 10 October, in coordination with Qatar, Türkiye and the United States. He welcomed Egypt’s accession to the recently created Board of Peace and underlined US President Donald Trump’s role in supporting the ceasefire arrangements. Abdelatty called for moving ahead with the second phase of the US-backed plan for Gaza.
According to the foreign ministry statement cited by Ahram Online, the minister stressed the need to support the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza as a transitional body, deploy an International Stabilization Force to monitor the ceasefire, reopen the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side, and ensure an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave. He said these steps are essential to enable early recovery and reconstruction based on a comprehensive approach that prioritizes Palestinian needs and guarantees sustained humanitarian assistance.
Sudan, Horn of Africa and water security
Turning to Sudan, Ahram Online reported that Abdelatty urged an urgent humanitarian truce and the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors and shelters. He reiterated Egypt’s support for an inclusive, Sudanese-led political process, emphasizing Sudan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the preservation of its state institutions. The minister underlined Cairo’s concern over the humanitarian situation and its impact on regional stability.
On the Horn of Africa, Ahram Online said Abdelatty warned that any move to recognize the self-declared Somaliland would violate international law and undermine Somalia’s sovereignty. He cautioned that such steps could threaten stability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. The talks also addressed Egypt’s water security, with Abdelatty restating that the Nile River is vital for his country and that Cairo remains open to cooperative arrangements with Nile Basin states under international law, while rejecting unilateral measures that could affect its water share.
Implications and future developments: What are Cairo and Washington aiming for?
According to Ahram Online, the meeting followed recent talks between President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and President Donald Trump, where both leaders discussed Gaza, regional security and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Trump reportedly pledged renewed US engagement on the GERD file and described it as a serious challenge to Nile flows, saying Washington would work to revive negotiations. El-Sisi signaled that Egypt seeks to deepen its strategic partnership with the US, with economic cooperation as a key component.
The discussions between Abdelatty and Landau signal continued coordination on the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire arrangements and the broader US-backed plan for the strip’s administration and reconstruction. Ahram Online indicated that Egypt will also keep pressing for de-escalation and political dialogue in Sudan, while defending its positions on the Horn of Africa and water security issues. The outcomes of these talks are expected to shape Cairo–Washington cooperation in the coming period, particularly on conflict resolution, humanitarian access and regional stability.
In sum, Ahram Online reports that the Cairo meeting between Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau underscored Egypt’s drive to consolidate its strategic partnership with the United States while advancing its priorities on Gaza, Sudan, the Horn of Africa and Nile water security through coordinated diplomatic efforts.
