Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi began a new tour abroad that will take him to Denmark, Norway, and Ireland, with the aim of enhancing cooperation and coordination between Egypt and European nations amid growing collaboration with the continent.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, a former Egyptian ambassador to Europe said that Sisi’s trip constitutes a key step in strengthening the expanding partnership between Egypt and the EU.
In Copenhagen, Sisi met with Denmark’s King Frederik X at Amalienborg Palace, expressing pride in being the first Egyptian president to visit Denmark.
He expressed hope that the visit would strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors, according to an official statement from the Egyptian presidency.
Denmark’s Copenhagen Post reported that Sisi is the first non-European leader to receive an official welcome from both King Frederik and Queen Mary. The statement described the visit as historic.
Following the meeting, Sisi and the Danish king participated in the Egyptian-Danish Business Forum, which focused on boosting economic cooperation and investment between the two countries. The visit is set to culminate in the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries, along with several memorandums of understanding across various fields.
After Denmark, Sisi will head to Oslo, Norway, for an official visit, during which he is scheduled to meet with Norway’s king, prime minister, and members of parliament. He will also engage with leaders of Norwegian companies operating in Egypt and oversee the signing of bilateral agreements.
The final leg of the tour will take Sisi to Dublin, Ireland’s capital, where he will hold discussions with the Irish president and prime minister. Talks will focus on enhancing bilateral relations and coordinating positions on shared international issues and crises.
Former Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Gamal Bayoumi emphasized the significance of this European tour, particularly in light of ongoing regional political and economic challenges.
Bayoumi, who led Egypt’s negotiations for the 2001 EU-Egypt Association Agreement, said he expects the agreements signed during the trip, particularly the strategic partnership declaration, to deepen Egypt-EU ties, especially in the economic realm.
He further anticipated positive economic outcomes from the tour, including increased Egyptian exports, and pointed to an opportunity to coordinate positions on global challenges, such as the crises in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon.
The EU remains a critical partner for Egypt. It is the largest investor in the country, with cumulative investments totaling €38.8 billion—representing 39% of Egypt’s total foreign direct investment. Egypt is also the second-largest recipient of EU foreign direct investment in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the EU delegation in Egypt.
In June, Egypt and the EU signed an investment financing agreement as part of a broader €7.4 billion package aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and supporting Egypt amid regional and global challenges. The agreement includes an initial €1 billion EU investment in Egypt as part of a strategic partnership. This tranche is part of the larger package announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in March.
