Egypt, Denmark sign strategic partnership declaration, warn of regional confrontation

By Ibrahim Khazen

CAIRO (AA) - Egypt and Denmark signed a strategic partnership declaration on Saturday that emphasized the importance of concerted efforts to prevent the region from sliding into a wide-scale regional confrontation, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

It took place during Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to Denmark as part of a European tour he began Thursday, which includes Norway and Ireland.

The statement noted that al-Sisi met Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen as part of his state visit.

They signed “the strategic partnership declaration between Egypt and Denmark, and witnessed the signing of a number of MoUs (Memorandum of Understandings) between the two countries in a number of fields.”

“It is with great pleasure that I commence my tour to Northern European countries in this beautiful historic city of Copenhagen. This visit is the first of its kind since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries on the 1st of June, 1922,” al-Sisi said at a joint news conference. “My meeting and extensive discussions with Her Excellency, the prime minister, in the presence of our delegations, have resulted in a mutual understanding to elevate bilateral relations across an array of fields, encompassing political, economic, investment, and cultural affairs.”

Sisi said that "this was demonstrated in the signing of the joint declaration to promote our relationship to a Strategic Partnership, the launch of the Egypt-Denmark Business Council, and the signing of several MoUs."​​​​​​​

"Regional and international issues of mutual concern figured prominently in our discussions today, primarily the Palestinian issue. We focused on Egypt’s tireless efforts to secure an immediate and durable ceasefire and an end to the war in the Gaza Strip," he said about current issues.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala