No military or naval presence of non-littoral state in Red Sea would be accepted: Egypt FM

12 January, 2025

Abdelatty made his remarks during a press conference in Cairo with his Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh and Somali counterpart Ahmed Moalim Fiqi.

According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, the three top diplomats held the first meeting of the joint trilateral ministerial committee in Cairo on Saturday.

In a joint statement, the ministers emphasised their ongoing diplomatic coordination and agreed to hold periodical ministerial meetings.

“The next meeting will take place in the Somali capital of Mogadishu,” Abdelatty said during the press conference, noting that arrangements are underway for a trilateral summit at the presidential level soon.

The Egyptian FM also noted their agreement on the critical importance of implementing the outcomes of the Asmara Summit, held in October in the Eritrean capital by the Egyptian, Eritrean, and Somali leaders.

Somalia

During the press conference, Abdelatty expressed the three countries’ rejection of unilateral actions undermining Somalia’s unity and sovereignty.

“We reaffirm our commitment to Somalia’s stability, security, and territorial integrity, and we support the government in extending state control over its entire territory and combating terrorism,” Abdelatty said.

He added that the three ministers also discussed ways to enhance the capabilities of the Somali state’s institutions to address the security challenges and protect the country’s land and maritime borders.

In addition, Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s contributions to peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts in Somalia.

He noted Egypt’s participation in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and the importance of expediting its formation and activation. He also stressed the need for adequate and sustainable funding for the mission.

Sudan

Addressing the Sudanese crisis, the Egyptian FM stressed the ministers’ commitment to Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and the necessity of preserving the Sudanese state’s institutions.

“We discussed collaborative cooperation in the field of training to enable the Sudanese army to combat terrorism,” Abdelatty noted.

The ministers also discussed the situation in Africa and the Sahel region, emphasising the need to support security and stability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea and secure maritime navigation.

They also stressed the need to maintain the unity and sovereignty of the countries in the region following international law and the principle of non-interference in states’ internal affairs.

According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, Abdelatty also held separate meetings with his Eritrean and Somali counterparts to discuss enhancing regional cooperation.

During the meeting, he expressed appreciation for their countries’ support of Egypt’s candidate for UNESCO Director-General Khaled Al-Anani.