Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty condemned ongoing Iranian attacks targeting Gulf states and Jordan on Tuesday, calling for an immediate halt to “unacceptable” strikes that he described as a flagrant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.
In a series of intensive telephone calls with his counterparts in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, Abdelatty said the attacks represented an assault on state sovereignty and the resources of their people. The discussions focused on the dangerous current escalation in the region and ongoing efforts to prevent a total “explosion” of the situation.
Abdelatty held the talks with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
The ministers emphasized the importance of intensifying joint coordination with brotherly and friendly countries to contain the current crisis and prevent further deterioration. The calls also addressed the outcomes of a recent four-way ministerial meeting held in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. The diplomats exchanged views on building upon those results to push for a diplomatic path and prioritise dialogue as the sole means to avoid “total chaos” in the region.
Separately, Abdelatty received Charles Fries, the Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service for Peace, Security and Defence, on Tuesday. The meeting was part of periodic consultations aimed at strengthening cooperation between Egypt and the European Union.
During the meeting, Abdelatty highlighted the momentum in Egyptian-European relations, stressing the importance of enhancing cooperation in economic, trade, and investment fields under the framework of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
The Foreign Minister reviewed Egypt’s efforts to support regional stability, noting the intensive contacts Cairo is conducting to contain tensions. He reiterated that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only way to prevent the region from sliding into further instability.
Fries praised Egypt’s “pivotal role” in supporting regional security and its movements to contain crises and promote diplomatic paths. He further affirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the EU as a fundamental pillar for developing cooperation across various fields to serve mutual interests.
