Egypt's FM meets Trump's new national security adviser in Washington

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met the newly appointed US National Security Advisor Herbert Raymond McMaster on Tuesday in Washington, MENA agency reported.

HR McMaster, an army lieutenant general, was appointed by President Donald Trump last week after previous national security advisor Michael Flynn resigned.

The pair discussed bilateral issues according to MENA, and McMaster expressed Washington's keenness on enhancing cooperation with Egypt at all levels, affirming that the new administration of Donald Trump is determined to work on mutual priorities and protecting the interests of both countries.

The Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman, Ahmed Abu Zeid, said in a statement that Shoukry had vowed there would be more cooperation between Egypt and the United States under the new administration of President Donald Trump.

Shoukry arrived in Washington on Sunday and met with newly appointed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday.

Tillerson promised more aid for Cairo's counter-terrorism efforts and economic development plan.

Shoukry updated the US officials on the latest economic and security developments in Egypt, as well as the country's counter-terrorism efforts, according to the spokesman.

During his visit, Shoukry also discussed preparations for Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's upcoming visit to the US to meet with Trump, which will be the first meeting between an Egyptian and an American president in years, MENA reported.

Rhetoric from both sides since Trump's election late last year has been warm, in contrast with relations under the administration of Barack Obama, which grew strained after the ouster of Egypt's Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

Shortly after the ouster of Morsi, which the Obama administration described as a military coup, Washington temporarily suspended the $1.3 billion in annual military aid to Egypt.

However, aid to Cairo was resumed in 2015.

El-Sisi was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump on his election as president in November 2016.

The Egyptian president met with then-presidential candidate Trump in September last year on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly in New York.

Trump described his meeting with El-Sisi as "productive and great.

Source: Ahram online