CIA Chief Meets El-Sisi in Cairo as Iran, Gaza, Sudan and Somalia Dominate Talks

CAIRO – US Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Sunday for talks covering the Iran crisis, Gaza, Sudan, Somalia and maritime security.

The meeting, which was not announced in advance, was also attended by Egypt’s General Intelligence Service chief, Minister Hassan Rashad. The Egyptian Presidency said the talks focused on strengthening strategic relations between Egypt and the United States, as well as regional and international issues.

The meeting came as Egypt continues to engage with multiple parties on regional conflicts and as instability around the Middle East and Red Sea creates security and economic pressures for Cairo.

El-Sisi told Ratcliffe that Egypt supports efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement to resolve the Iran crisis, restore regional security and stability, and safeguard freedom of international navigation, according to the Egyptian Presidency.

He also stressed the importance of resolving regional conflicts through political and diplomatic channels and reiterated Egypt’s opposition to attacks against Arab states.

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The Presidency said Ratcliffe conveyed greetings from US President Donald Trump and praised Egypt’s role in supporting efforts to find peaceful and comprehensive solutions to regional crises.

The CIA director also highlighted continued cooperation between the CIA and Egypt’s General Intelligence Service on security, intelligence, counterterrorism, organised crime and transnational crime.

The National reported that Egypt has been maintaining contacts with Washington, Tehran and Arab states as it seeks to support efforts to end the conflict. The newspaper said Cairo also has a direct economic interest in reducing disruption to Red Sea shipping because of the importance of the Suez Canal to Egypt’s revenues.

Gaza ceasefire

The Palestinian conflict was also discussed, with El-Sisi stressing the need for full implementation of the second phase of the US plan aimed at consolidating the Gaza ceasefire.

According to the Egyptian Presidency, El-Sisi called for the protection of civilians, sustained and unhindered humanitarian assistance and conditions for the resumption of a political process towards a comprehensive settlement based on the two-state solution.

Ratcliffe praised Egypt’s role in supporting the Gaza ceasefire agreement and its efforts to advance the peace process, the Presidency said.

Sudan was another major issue on the agenda.

El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Sudan’s unity, stability and legitimate national institutions, saying the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were non-negotiable.

He also pointed to Egypt’s participation in regional and international efforts aimed at ending the war, reducing humanitarian suffering and supporting a political settlement.

The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has entered its fourth year, creating one of the world’s largest displacement and humanitarian crises.

Egypt has consistently emphasised the preservation of Sudanese state institutions and has been involved in diplomatic efforts around the conflict.

Somalia and the Horn of Africa

The talks also covered developments in the Horn of Africa.

El-Sisi expressed Egypt’s support for efforts to strengthen security and stability in Somalia and rejected any infringement on Somalia’s sovereignty or territorial integrity, according to the Presidency.

Ratcliffe, meanwhile, stressed the importance of continued US-Egyptian coordination on Sudan, Somalia, the Horn of Africa and international maritime security.

The Presidency said the two countries also intend to continue exchanging intelligence, assessments and views on regional security challenges, terrorism and organised crime.

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The meeting comes as Egypt manages several overlapping security and economic pressures.

The National reported that Cairo has been trying to maintain working relationships with both Washington and Tehran while also preserving its close ties with Gulf Arab states. El-Sisi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi last week, according to the newspaper.

The Red Sea is particularly important to Egypt because disruptions to shipping can affect Suez Canal revenues.

The canal remains a major source of foreign currency for Egypt, and prolonged instability around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb has already affected traffic through the waterway.

Egypt is also a major US security partner and receives about US$1.3 billion annually in US military assistance, according to US government figures cited in reporting on the bilateral relationship.

For now, the Cairo meeting places Iran, Gaza and the conflicts in Sudan and Somalia within the same high-level US-Egyptian security discussion, with maritime security forming another link between the Middle Eastern and African theatres.