Ashraf AboArafe
Washington, D.C. — July 29, 2025 — In a series of high-level meetings on Capitol Hill, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, met with senior U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Brian Schatz to discuss the strategic bilateral partnership and pressing regional developments.
Meeting with Senator Lindsey Graham: Strategic Ties and Regional Diplomacy
Dr. Abdelatty began his visit by meeting with Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. The minister reaffirmed the enduring strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, emphasizing strong cooperation in political, military, and economic fields that serves both nations’ shared interests and contributes to regional security.
The two officials exchanged views on the latest developments in the Middle East. Dr. Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s pivotal role in promoting regional peace and stability, including its mediation efforts—coordinated with Qatar and the United States—to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. He underscored Egypt’s firm stance on the need for a permanent ceasefire, the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, early recovery, and reconstruction in the war-torn strip.
He reaffirmed Egypt’s unwavering commitment to the peace process and the pursuit of a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution and relevant international resolutions.
The conversation also addressed Egypt’s concerns over the Nile River and water security. Dr. Abdelatty conveyed Egypt’s legal and diplomatic position regarding the equitable and lawful management of shared water resources. He emphasized the necessity of cooperative frameworks grounded in international law and mutual benefit, while firmly rejecting unilateral actions that threaten regional stability. The minister stressed that Egypt will take all measures permitted under international law to protect its water security.
Meeting with Senator Brian Schatz: Economic Cooperation and African Security
Continuing his congressional engagements, Dr. Abdelatty met with Senator Brian Schatz, the Democratic Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. The minister reaffirmed the special nature of Egypt-U.S. relations and expressed Egypt’s desire to deepen cooperation with both chambers of Congress across political, economic, and security dimensions.
He spotlighted Egypt’s keen interest in expanding economic, trade, and investment ties with the United States, referring to the recent Egypt–U.S. Economic Forum, held in Cairo on May 25–26, which brought together over 50 major American companies.
Regionally, Dr. Abdelatty elaborated on Egypt’s sustained efforts to promote stability in the Middle East amid rising conflicts. He briefed the Senator on Egypt’s diplomatic push to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and secure vital humanitarian access, while also working to restore calm and pave the way toward a durable political settlement of the Palestinian issue.
The discussion also touched on the security challenges in the Sahel and West Africa, where the spread of terrorist groups and armed militias has destabilized the region. Dr. Abdelatty shared insights from his recent tour of six West African nations, underlining Egypt’s growing engagement with the Sahel as part of its extended strategic neighborhood.
