Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt and Serbia address Middle East tensions, bolster cooperation
Regional security and the urgent need for de-escalation in the Middle East topped the agenda when Egypt’s Foreign Minister and Minister of Migration, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, welcomed Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut to Cairo on Thursday.
Dr. Abdelatty expressed deep concern over the continued escalation between Israel and Iran, as well as Israeli military operations in Gaza.
He highlighted Egypt’s ongoing efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, promote a return to ceasefire talks, and encourage calm in the region.
The minister warmly acknowledged Serbia’s supportive stance on the Palestinian cause and stressed the importance of preventing the region from sliding into further instability, urging all parties to commit to negotiations and a swift end to hostilities.
Beyond regional issues, the talks celebrated the growing strength of Egypt-Serbia relations. Dr. Abdelatty praised the significant progress achieved in recent years and welcomed the upcoming implementation of the Egypt-Serbia Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2023, which is expected to boost trade and economic cooperation.
A major development in economic ties is Serbia’s decision to establish its first Chamber of Commerce representation office in Cairo, set to open new avenues for business and investment. Plans are also underway for high-level meetings, including the 19th session of the Joint Economic Committee in the second half of 2025 and routine meetings of the Joint Business Council, to encourage deeper collaboration.
The discussions explored avenues for increasing mutual investment, particularly by capitalizing on Egypt’s trade agreements with Arab and African markets—and leveraging Serbia’s networks for Egyptian exports to the Western Balkans. Dr. Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s interest in expanding partnerships with Serbia in renewable energy and natural gas, acknowledging Serbia’s remarkable progress in the clean energy sector.
The minister also emphasized people-to-people connections, welcoming skilled Egyptian professionals to contribute to Serbia’s development sectors and celebrating enhanced inter-parliamentary cooperation, including the new Egyptian-Serbian Parliamentary Friendship Group. He expressed appreciation for Serbia’s support in Egypt’s bid for the UNESCO Director-General position.
Both countries reiterated their shared vision for a partnership based on peace, progress, and prosperity, and committed to supporting stability not only in their own regions but also throughout the Middle East.