Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry’s DC trip
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry had a very busy day yesterday in Washington, meeting with US business leaders, state department officials and US National Security Adviser John Bolton. He sat down with business leaders representing US corporations including, Apache, ExxonMobil, Cargill, Lockheed Martin, and Honeywell. The meeting, which was organized by the US Chamber of Commerce, saw Shoukry invite US industrialists to establish a US Industrial Zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry. Shoukry also highlighted that Egypt was interested in non-oil investment from US companies, ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zaid said.
US aid to Egypt was the highlight of Shoukry’s meeting with Bolton, Abu Zaid said. Shoukry stressed to Bolton how crucial US aid, whether military or otherwise, was in Egypt’s fight against terrorism. The aid must be “nurtured and protected,” Shoukry added. The US restored USD 195 mn in military aid last month that it had suspended a year ago on human rights concerns.
Shoukry also gave Bolton the rundown on where Egypt stands in its anti-terrorism fight, with updates on the Armed Forces’ Operation Sinai 2018. Shoukry also discussed setting up 2+2 meetings between Cairo and Washington’s foreign and defense ministers. The latest on Syria, Libya, and Gaza was also on the agenda.
Gaza and Middle East peace process featured in Shoukry’s talks with Assistant to the President and Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt, who briefed Shoukry on talks he has had with regional players ahead of announcing the Trump administration’s peace plan. The pair also discussed restoring aid to Palestinian refugees through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), according to a Ministry statement.