Egypt’s foreign minister affirms ‘solid and stable’ relationship with Israel
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry speaks about US-Egyptian ties, recent tensions with Turkey and Russia, and progress being made on the Renaissance Dam dispute with Ethiopia.
NEW YORK — Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, speaking to Al-Monitor during his visit to New York for the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, addressed his country’s position on the Middle East peace process, US-Egyptian relations and the ongoing conflicts in Libya and Yemen, among other topics.
Shoukry, who has served as minister of foreign affairs since 2014, is a career diplomat who formerly served as Cairo’s ambassador to the United States from 2008 to 2012. In his post as top diplomat, he has worked to boost Egypt’s regional standing and help it regain a role in the Mideast peace process.
A transcript of the interview, conducted by Al-Monitor’s managing editor, slightly edited for clarity, follows below.
Al-Monitor: As you know, the US Congress is considering a proposal to cut economic aid to Egypt in half, down to $75 million. What impact do you believe this would have on the US-Egyptian relationship?
