Biden, Egyptian President Discuss Food Security and Energy in Jeddah

President Joe Biden meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Saturday, July 16, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. AP
President Joe Biden meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Saturday, July 16, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. AP
TT

Biden, Egyptian President Discuss Food Security and Energy in Jeddah

President Joe Biden meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Saturday, July 16, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. AP
President Joe Biden meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Saturday, July 16, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. AP

US President Joe Biden met with Egypt’s president in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Biden took office in 2021.

Biden was heard thanking President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for Egypt's role in a ceasefire to Israel’s war with Hamas last year in the Gaza Strip, an acknowledgement of Cairo's role in the region.

“Looking forward to working with you on a whole range of issues,” Biden was heard also telling Sisi.

Sisi discussed food security and disruptions to energy supplies with Biden as they met for the first time on the sidelines of an Arab summit in Jeddah, the Egyptian presidency said.

The two leaders also addressed ways to revive a Palestinian peace process, and Egypt's efforts to secure a legally binding agreement over the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a statement from the presidency said.

Cairo has been seeking a deal for years over the GERD, which Egypt says could put at risk its scarce water supplies. The dam is under construction on Ethiopia's Blue Nile and Ethiopia started filling the reservoir behind the dam two years ago.



Saudi Arabia Expresses Concern over Continued Fighting in Sudan

Columns of smoke rise during clashes between the "Rapid Support Forces" and the Sudanese army in Khartoum (Reuters).
Columns of smoke rise during clashes between the "Rapid Support Forces" and the Sudanese army in Khartoum (Reuters).
TT

Saudi Arabia Expresses Concern over Continued Fighting in Sudan

Columns of smoke rise during clashes between the "Rapid Support Forces" and the Sudanese army in Khartoum (Reuters).
Columns of smoke rise during clashes between the "Rapid Support Forces" and the Sudanese army in Khartoum (Reuters).

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflict in Sudan and the escalating violence against civilians, particularly women and children, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia condemned the recent incidents in eastern Al-Jazirah State, which have led to civilian casualties and injuries, emphasizing that such acts violate international law and undermine the principle of civilian protection.
The Kingdom called on warring parties to adhere to the commitments outlined in the Jeddah Declaration signed on May 11, 2023. It urged the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire, end the conflict, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.
The Kingdom reaffirmed its strong commitment to supporting Sudan’s stability and preserving the unity of its legitimate institutions, sovereignty, and independence. It emphasized that a political solution is the only viable path to resolve the crisis in Sudan.