U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry attended the U.S.-Egypt Strategic Dialogue in Cairo, Egypt, on August 2, 2015. The meeting was held at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Kerry expressed his pleasure to be back in Cairo and appreciated the efforts of Ambassador Steve Beecroft and a strong delegation from the United States.
Kerry emphasized Egypt's significant role in regional and global affairs, stating that "Egypt has long played a pivotal role in the region and in world affairs." He reiterated America's commitment to Egypt's security and economic well-being, stressing the importance of rebuilding elements of their relationship through this strategic dialogue.
The discussions covered a wide range of topics including the threat posed by Daeesh (ISIS), economic revitalization in Egypt, and cooperation on counterterrorism efforts. Kerry acknowledged Turkey's recent involvement against Daeesh as an important development. He stated that it is crucial to address all violent extremist groups for Middle Eastern stability.
Kerry also highlighted economic opportunities between the two nations. He commended President al-Sisi for steps taken to restore investor confidence and improve business conditions. The U.S. is keen to support these efforts by working together on capital attraction, intellectual property safeguards, entrepreneurship empowerment, energy strategy development, and governance improvement.
In terms of security cooperation, Kerry mentioned that over the past year alone, "we have provided F-16s, Apache helicopters," among other military assistance to Egypt. He underscored that defeating terrorism requires a long-term strategy involving both border security measures and preventing youth from turning to extremism.
He concluded by expressing optimism about future collaborations between the United States and Egypt: "The friendship between our countries is not based on some kind of perfect agreement. It’s based on intense awareness of our shared interests."