Egypt, Brazil to Advocate for Southern Countries' Interests

Egyptian and Brazilian presidents stressed the urgency of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian and Brazilian presidents stressed the urgency of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt, Brazil to Advocate for Southern Countries' Interests

Egyptian and Brazilian presidents stressed the urgency of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian and Brazilian presidents stressed the urgency of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. (Egyptian Presidency)

An Egyptian-Brazilian summit convened in Cairo on Thursday to deliberate on mutual coordination within international spheres, focusing on collaborative efforts to reform the global governance framework for equitable representation of Southern countries' interests.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi received his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Al Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo.
Egypt's presidential spokesman, Ahmad Fahmy, said that the talks tackled bilateral ties, Brazil’s presiding over G20 this year, and Egypt's invitation as a guest to the group's meetings.
Lula was on an official state visit to Cairo, celebrating 100 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It was his second visit to Egypt, the first having been in 2003.
They witnessed the signing of several agreements in sciences, technology, and agriculture.
“We have agreed to bolster our bilateral relations in all political, economic, industrial, agricultural, and cultural fields,” Sisi said during a joint press conference with his Brazilian counterpart.
Both sides, he added, agreed to set up a joint committee to coordinate the areas and goals of their bilateral ties.
Strategic Partnership
After talks with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo, the Brazilian President said he wanted relations between the two countries to be elevated to a “strategic partnership.”
Lula said the admission of Egypt as a member of BRICS represents a milestone in effective collaboration between emerging economies.
He said Egypt and Brazil will work on "reforming international governance and building peace" in the framework of BRICS and urged for a multilateral world with fair development opportunities for developing states.
In January, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, UAE, and Ethiopia joined the BRICS, comprising Russia, Brazil, China, India, and South Africa.
Gaza
Meanwhile, the Brazilian President urged the UN to reach a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip.
Lula da Silva said the UN lacks sufficient power to stop the war in Gaza, noting that "Israel has violated all resolutions, laws, and international norms in its aggression against the strip."
Lula said there would not be peace without the establishment of a Palestinian state.
According to remarks provided to the Middle East News Agency, Mai Taha Khalil, Egypt's Ambassador to Brazil, asserted that this visit signifies Brazil's acknowledgment of Egypt's endeavors towards fostering stability and security in the Arab and African regions.
The Egyptian ambassador highlighted Brazil's recognition of Egyptian mediation efforts in facilitating a ceasefire in the Strip and securing the release of hostages.

 

 



Blinken Lays Out Post-war Gaza Plan to Be Handed to Trump Team

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
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Blinken Lays Out Post-war Gaza Plan to Be Handed to Trump Team

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday laid out plans for the post-war management of Gaza, saying the outgoing Biden administration would hand over the roadmap to President-elect Donald Trump's team to pick up if a ceasefire deal is reached.

Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington in his final days as the US top diplomat, Blinken said Washington envisioned a reformed Palestinian Authority leading Gaza and inviting international partners to help establish and run an interim administration for the enclave.

A security force would be formed from forces from partner nations and vetted Palestinian personnel, Blinken said during his speech, which was repeatedly interrupted by protesters who accused him of supporting genocide by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza, which Israel denies.

He was speaking as negotiators met in Qatar hoping to finalize a plan to end the war in Gaza after 15 months of conflict that has upended the Middle East.

"For many months, we've been working intensely with our partners to develop a detailed post-conflict plan that would allow Israel to fully withdraw from Gaza, prevent Hamas from filling back in, and provide for Gaza's governance, security and reconstruction," Blinken said.

Trump and his incoming team have not said whether they would implement the plan.

Blinken said a post-conflict plan and a "credible political horizon for Palestinians" was needed to ensure that Hamas does not re-emerge.

The United States had repeatedly warned Israel that Hamas could not be defeated by a military campaign alone, he said. "We assess that Hamas has recruited almost as many new fighters as it has lost. That is a recipe for an enduring insurgency and perpetual war."

PROTESTERS

Blinken's remarks were interrupted three times by protesters, who echoed accusations that the Biden administration was complicit in crimes committed by Israel in the war.

Blinken has denied Israel's actions amount to genocide and says he has pushed Israel to do more to protect civilians and to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Israel launched its assault after Hamas-led fighters stormed across its borders on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's aerial and ground campaign has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, drawing accusations of genocide in a World Court case brought by South Africa and of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the allegations.

The assault has displaced nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population and drawn the concern of the world’s main hunger monitor.

"You will forever be known as bloody Blinken, secretary of genocide," one protester shouted before being led out of the event.

Blinken remained calm, telling one heckler: "I respect your views. Please allow me to share mine," before resuming his remarks.

Blinken said US officials had debated "vigorously" the Biden administration's response to the war, a reference to a slew of resignations by officials in his State Department who have criticized the policy to continue providing arms and diplomatic cover to Israel.

Others felt Washington had held Israel back from inflicting greater damage on Iran and its proxies, he said.

"It is crucial to ask questions like these, which will be studied for years to come," he said. "I wish I could stand here today and tell you with certainty that we got every decision right. I cannot."