Trump: US committed to its military aid to Egypt

US President Donald Trump discussed Monday in a phone conversation with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi the war against terrorism and extremism, and applauded al-Sisi’s efforts on those fronts, Egyptian presidential spokesman said in a statement.

The White House said Trump told al-Sisi his administration is committed to maintaining the US’s annual military aid to Egypt.

Sisi stressed to Trump Egypt’s commitment in the fight against terrorism despite economic burdens the country faced in the past three years.

Meanwhile, Trump reiterated to the Egyptian president his appreciation for the difficulties Egypt endured in the fight against terrorism, and commended al-Sisi on the country’s economic reform programme.

The two presidents affirmed their belief in the strategic nature of the relationship between Cairo and Washington.

Egypt annually receives $1.3 billion in military aid from the United States.

Trump told al-Sisi he was looking forward to the Egyptian president’s visit to Washington, which is in the planning stages, the spokesman said.

Donald Trump assumed office as the 45th president of the United States of America on Friday.

Egypt’s president is the second world leader to be called by the newly inaugurated US President after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sisi was the first Arab leader to congratulate Trump on the phone after he was elected on 9 November, inviting him to visit Cairo.

Source: Ahram Online