Foreign Ministry had no prior knowledge of the US’ intention to cut aid: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson informed Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry of the decision to cut USD 290 mn in aid in a phone call just a few hours before the story broke, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The statement refutes reports that Egypt had known about the decision long before it was made, saying Shoukry received the call while in the airport in Lithuania heading back to Cairo from his Russia-Baltic states tour. MoFA’s statement is in line with the timeline as we understand it.

Shoukry in Berlin: And speaking of Shoukry, the minister discussed economic and security cooperation with his German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, during a meeting in Berlin yesterday, according to a ministry statement. The two sides signed an MoU on stemming illegal migration and handling refugee flows, but there was no Turkey-style migration assistance agreement. Talks also covered regional developments, including Qatar and what’s going on with Tom and Jerry next door.

Berlin backs Cairo on Nile Water: Sigmar also said at a joint presser following the meeting that Egypt needs signoff on any agreement that would change its share of Nile water (watch, runtime 11:55).