Biden Talks with Egyptian President... "Cooperation on Gaza Strip Reconstruction"

Egypt Also Pledges $500 Million Aid to Gaza Strip
Emerges as Key Partner in Coordinating Middle East Issues

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Egypt
[Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Joe Biden held a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discuss recent peace agreement issues in the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction of Gaza, and other Middle East regional issues, the White House announced. There are growing expectations that Egypt will emerge as a key partner country in the U.S.'s future Middle East policy.

According to foreign media including the AP on the 24th (local time), the White House announced that President Biden and President El-Sisi had a phone conversation that day. During the call, the two leaders reportedly discussed the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, the restoration of humanitarian aid corridors that had been blocked by Israel, and the resumption of related activities. President Biden emphasized in the call that "the United States is willing to work together with all other members of the international community to restore peace and security within the Palestinian Gaza Strip."

Basam Radi, spokesperson for the Egyptian presidential office, also stated in a press release that "the two leaders focused on discussing the Palestinian issue over the phone and talked about ways to maintain the reestablishment of peace in the Gaza Strip and adherence to the peace agreement." Radi added, "In addition to consultations on Gaza, the two leaders agreed to work together on other regional issues such as the establishment of a government in Libya. President Biden especially expressed gratitude for Egypt's efforts to protect and support the political timetable in Libya, North Africa."

President El-Sisi also emphasized Egypt's fair water usage demands regarding the second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) being constructed by Ethiopia, and reportedly expressed appreciation for the U.S.'s mediation efforts.

Within the United States, it is anticipated that just as Israel and Saudi Arabia played significant mediation and intervention roles in U.S. Middle East policy during the Donald Trump administration, Egypt's importance will increase under the Biden administration. The U.S. political media outlet Politico noted, "The Biden administration is not yet fully prepared for Middle East policy, as it has not even appointed an ambassador to Israel," and predicted, "In the future, regional partner countries including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain will have greater opportunities to intervene."

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