Egyptian president and Brazilian VP discussed cooperation

The vice president of Brazil, Hamilton Mourão, was received this Tuesday (28) by the president of Egypt, Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi, in the presence of the minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab country, Sameh Shoukry, and the ambassador of Brazil to Cairo, Antonio Patriota. Mourão is on an official trip to Egypt.

The spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency, Bassam Radi, stated the vice president expressed greetings from the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, to the Egyptian president, praising Egypt’s progress in recent years in economic reform and inclusive development. Pictured above, Mourão meeting Al-Sisi. 

Mourão also met with the Egyptian minister of Defense

Mourão expressed appreciation and admiration for the strong ties between the two countries in the political and economic spheres, demonstrating the Brazilian interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation, especially in the financial, commercial, and military fields.

In turn, the Egyptian President, Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi, sent his greetings to President Jair Bolsonaro, emphasizing Egypt’s pride in the distinct relations it maintains with Brazil and its goal of improving mutual ties in different areas to benefit from diverse capabilities of both nations, especially within the scope of the Brazilian development experience, taking into account the strategic importance the South American country represents for Egypt as an important trade partner in Latin America.

The spokesperson explained the meeting created a consensus on the desire to increase cooperation between the two countries in different areas, especially in military, trade, economic, and security, taking advantage of investment opportunities in Egypt, and encouraging Brazilian tourism to Egypt.

International forums

Both sides affirmed enthusiasm to act in a coordinated way in international forums, since the views of the two countries on most international and regional issues are similar, knowing both Egypt and Brazil actively represent, in international forums, the interests and the views of developing countries, as they are among the most influential in the search for regional stability in their geographic surroundings.

During the meeting, Mourão reviewed the latest regional political events in the Middle East, given the central role of Egypt in the region, and the management of President Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi, exchanging views on the Palestinian cause and the developments in the situation in Libya and Tunisia. The vice president appreciated Egypt’s constant efforts to ensure regional security and stability for all nations.

Views on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue were also discussed, especially in the context of the latest UN Security Council presidency decision, which called for compliance by all parties to arrive, in the short term, to a legal agreement for the filling and operation of the dam. In this context, Mourão expressed his country’s understanding concerning the importance of the presence of the Nile River for Egypt in favor of Egyptian water and food security.

Mourão and the Egyptian Ministry of Defense

As well as the Egyptian Presidency, the Vice Presidency of Brazil also disclosed the contents of the meeting and stated regional and bilateral issues of mutual interest were dealt with, and exchanges of views on issues such as the Israel and Palestine affair, the situation in Libya and the negotiations about the GERD. Mourão’s advisors informed the subjects of the talks also included opportunities for growth in economic relations provided by the free trade agreement between Egypt and Mercosur, as well as cooperation in the area of defense and the prospect of launching a nonstop flight between Egypt and Brazil, to be operated by state-owned airline EgyptAir.

Hamilton Mourão was also received this Tuesday in Cairo by General Mohamed Ahmed Zaki, Egypt’s minister of Defense and Military Production. According to the Vice Presidency of Brazil, they spoke about perspectives for increasing cooperation in the defense products sector, including through the signing of a bilateral protocol between the Defense Ministries of the two countries and the desire for greater coordination in the area of UN peace missions, bearing in mind the experience of Brazil and Egypt in the field of international peacekeeping and security.

Report by Omar Assi*

*With information from the Vice Presidency of Brazil

Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro