US pledges support for Egypt counter-terrorism efforts

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson promised more aid for Cairo’s counter-terrorism efforts and economic development plan during a meeting with Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Washington on Monday, adding that the Washington considers Cairo a real partner in the Middle East.
The two officials stressed during their meeting the special and strategic ties that have binded the two countries for decades, vowing more cooperation on all levels.
Shoukry arrived in Washington on Sunday for talks with US officials, which will include meetings with National Security Adviser Raymond McMaster as well as some leading representatives from Congress.
Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said that Shoukry updated his US counterpart on the latest economic and security developments in Egypt, as well as the country’s counter-terrorism efforts.
The two ministers also discussed a range of regional issues, including the Syrian crisis, where Shoukry stressed the importance of reaching a political solution to the conflict in a way that preserves the country’s territorial integrity and national institutions and achieves the hopes of the Syrian people.
Shoukry also spoke with Tillerson about Egypt’s political efforts to end the crisis in Libya in accordance with the UN-brokered Skhirat agreement of 2015.