President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met yesterday with IMF Director Christine Lagarde to discuss Egypt’s economic reform program, according to an Ittihadiya statement. Lagarde reiterated the IMF’s commitment to Egypt and spoke positively about the impact of the economic reforms, according to a statement published by the IMF. Lagarde also noted the importance of addressing private sector reform, noting that there still exist “constraints” to its development. She also stressed the need to provide “adequate resources are available for social protection.”

The president also met with senior White House adviser Ivanka Trump to discuss the empowerment of women, according to an Ittihadiya statement.

It wasn’t all friendly banter during El Sisi’s trip though: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened the use of sanctions against Egypt should it follow through with the purchase of Russian aircraft. “We’ve made it clear that if those systems were to be purchased, the CAATSA statute would require sanctions on the regime,” Pomepo said at a Senate hearing, according to defence publication Janes. “We’ve received assurances from them that they understand that, and I’m very hopeful that they will decide to not move forward with that acquisition,” he added.

The foreign press is still having a field day discussing El Sisi’s presence in Washington — more on this in this morning’s Egypt in the News.