Egyptian FM, Transport Minister meet with Eritrean President to strengthen partnership

CAIRO - 16 May 2026: Following directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad, and Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of Transport, met Saturday with President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. 

 

The meeting also aimed to exchange views on regional developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

 

Minister Abdelatty conveyed President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's greetings to his Eritrean counterpart, praising the deep-rooted historical relations between the two countries.

 

He affirmed Egypt's full support for Eritrea in preserving its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and its commitment to strengthening economic and trade cooperation with Eritrea across various sectors to achieve the mutual interests of both nations through the establishment of bilateral cooperation projects.

 

He highlighted the inclusion of several business leaders and private sector representatives in the visiting delegation, which will contribute to enhancing partnerships in a number of priority sectors, most notably mining, transportation, pharmaceuticals, and fisheries, as well as supporting capacity-building and training programs to develop Eritrean personnel in various sectors.

 

Regarding Red Sea security, Minister Abdelatty stressed that the governance and security of the Red Sea remain the exclusive responsibility of the littoral states, given its strategic importance as a waterway directly linked to their national security.

 

He emphasized that no non-littoral parties should be involved in any arrangements or understandings concerning it, and affirmed Egypt's support for the Eritrean vision on Red Sea management, which includes an emphasis on the unity and sovereignty of the littoral states.

 

In the same context, the two sides reviewed developments in the Horn of Africa. Minister Abdelatty presented the Egyptian perspective on the situations in Sudan and Somalia, reiterating Egypt's unwavering commitment to maintaining the security and stability of the Horn of Africa, considering it a direct extension of Egyptian national security. He also stressed the importance of supporting national state institutions and preserving the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the region's countries.

 

Minister of Transport, Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir, affirmed Egypt's commitment to strengthening cooperation with Eritrea in the fields of transport, infrastructure, and logistics. He noted Egypt's readiness to share its expertise in railways, ports, and maritime transport, which will contribute to supporting development efforts and enhancing economic ties between the two countries.

 

He also commended the signing of the maritime transport cooperation agreement and the establishment of a shipping line connecting Egyptian and Eritrean ports via the Red Sea, which will further bolster economic cooperation between the two nations.

 

For his part, President Afwerki asked that his greetings be conveyed to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, expressing his appreciation for Egypt's active role in supporting the security and stability of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

 

He also praised the deep historical ties between the two countries and affirmed Eritrea's commitment to continuing to enhance coordination and cooperation with Egypt across various political, economic, and security sectors to achieve the shared interests of both nations and their brotherly peoples.

 

President Afwerki also expressed Eritrea's keenness to strengthen cooperation with Egypt in all areas to achieve mutual benefit for both countries.

 

The meeting also witnessed the honor of the economic and trade delegation accompanying the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Transport meeting with President Afwerki to confirm the full readiness to start trade and economic partnerships between the two countries in various fields, which was appreciated by the Eritrean President.