El Sisi, Baerbock talk increasing investments + COP27: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi discussed increasing Germany’s private sector investment to Egypt and COP27 preparations in a meeting with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, according to an Ittihadiya statement. Baerbock concluded her first visit to Egypt yesterday, which also saw her meet with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, ending a Middle East tour that took in Israel, Palestine, and Jordan.

Human rights criteria will be at the center of Germany’s new government’s international arms sales this year, including to Egypt, Baerbock said at a joint press conference following talks with Shoukry, according to the Associated Press and Deutsche Welle. Former chancellor Angela Merkel’s government approved a number of arms sales to Egypt before leaving office in December, drawing fire from critics.

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El Sisi discusses strategic ties with Macron: Sisi discussed strengthening cooperation with French President ​​Emmanuel Macron during a trip to France over the weekend for the One Ocean Summit, which aims to push the international community to take action towards preserving the planet’s oceans. The pair touched on events in Libya and November’s COP27 summit in Sharm El Sheikh. El Sisi also met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Tunisian Prime Minister Najla Bouden and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the French summit, where he delivered a speech.