Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Eritrea President Isaias Afwerki on Friday to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional security concerns, as part of periodic consultations between the two countries.
The meeting, held at the Denden Guest House, included extensive discussions focused on further consolidating cooperation between Egypt and Eritrea. Talks also covered regional issues of mutual importance, including those related to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
Themes addressed in greater depth included the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan, nation-building efforts in Somalia, and challenges to peace and security in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea regions.
Abdelatty’s visit to Asmara on Friday, February 28th, also involved delivering a verbal message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to President Afwerki, focused on enhancing bilateral relations across various sectors.
Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, the official spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the visit was a follow-up to President El-Sisi’s visit to the Eritrean capital in October 2024. Its purpose was to further activate the tripartite coordination mechanism between Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia. The first ministerial meeting under this mechanism took place in Cairo last January, and preparations are underway for the second meeting in the near future.
Khallaf added that the meeting involved a review of the strong bilateral ties between Egypt and Eritrea. The two sides explored ways to enhance joint cooperation across different sectors to benefit both countries. They also exchanged views on regional issues of common interest, particularly the situation in Africa and how to support peace and security in the Horn of Africa. This included support for Somalia’s efforts to combat terrorism and assert its sovereignty.
Developments in Sudan were also discussed, with emphasis on the importance of supporting the Sudanese state and its institutions while preserving Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity. The meeting also addressed the situations in Libya and the Sahel region, as well as developments in the Red Sea, reiterating the rejection of the involvement of any non-Red Sea littoral states in the security and governance of the Red Sea.
In a brief statement to the Eritrean News Agency, Foreign Minister Abdelatty stated that the periodic consultations are aimed at “cultivating common positions on vital matters of regional security and stability.”
President Afwerki conveyed his greetings and appreciation to President El-Sisi, expressing his hope to deepen bilateral relations across all fields to meet the aspirations of both nations and reflect the deep historical ties between Egypt and Eritrea.
