Egypt, US stress strategic cooperation in military domain

Cairo, Dec. 3 (IANS): Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met on Saturday with US Secretary of Defense James Mattis in the Egyptian capital Cairo to discuss strategic cooperation and joint counter-terrorism efforts.

“Sisi stressed the strength of the Egyptian-US relations and their distinguished strategic aspects, urging to enhance all aspects of cooperation between the two sides particularly in the military field,” Xinhua quoted Egypt’s presidential spokesman Bassam Rady as saying.

He added that Mattis expressed US keenness to promote cooperation with Egypt as a key player to maintain stability and security in the Middle East region, underscoring US support for Egypt’s war against terrorism.

The meeting was attended by Egyptian Defense Minister Sedqi Sobhi, who met with Mattis earlier in the day, as well as a number of senior military officials from both sides.

Talks between Egyptian and US defense ministers discussed a number of topics related to military cooperation, joint military drills and the exchange of expertise in different fields, Egypt’s military spokesman Tamer al-Refaay was quoted as saying.

Egypt’s ties with the US deteriorated after the Egyptian military ousted former President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests.

The move has led to the suspension of US military aid to Egypt and the cancellation of the largest joint military exercise between the two countries, known as Bright Star, by former US President Barack Obama.

The bilateral ties improved under the new US administration of Donald Trump, who pledged to resume the annual military aid to the key regional ally.