Monday, 25 May 2026
Egyptian and UK foreign ministers hold first phone call to strengthen bilateral ties
In a sign of deepening diplomatic relations, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, held a phone conversation today with the United Kingdom’s new Foreign Secretary, Ms. Yvette Cooper.
Dr. Abdelatty congratulated Secretary Cooper on her recent appointment, expressing Egypt’s commitment to further enhance bilateral cooperation across political, economic, trade, and investment sectors. Both parties highlighted the positive momentum generated by recent high-level contacts between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, including their latest call on September 11.
The ministers discussed urgent regional issues, with a particular focus on the alarming humanitarian situation in Gaza. Dr. Abdelatty conveyed Egypt’s deep concern regarding the ongoing violence, reiterating Egypt’s firm rejection of what he called “Israeli crimes and systematic attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinian people.” He underlined the importance of unimpeded delivery of humanitarian and medical aid and called on the international community to intensify efforts to end hostilities and alleviate the suffering of civilians.
The Egyptian minister welcomed recent commitments by a number of Western nations, including the UK, to recognize the State of Palestine on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. Dr. Abdelatty described this as a significant message of hope for the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate aspirations, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and just solution based on the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
Turning to other regional concerns, the two ministers also addressed the Iranian nuclear file. Dr. Abdelatty briefed his counterpart on Egypt’s diplomatic efforts which led to the recent Cairo Agreement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), resuming technical cooperation. He stressed that sustained diplomatic engagement creates essential opportunities to rebuild trust and ensure regional peace and security.
The conversation reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to close coordination on key international and regional issues, signaling a renewed partnership for peace and stability.