U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken has expressed hopes to advance efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and strengthen ties with egypt, amid concerns about escalating middle east tensions.
The top US. diplomat is in Egypt at a time the middle east is on high alert due to the risk of Gaza war expanding, particularly after Hezbollah promised to retaliate against Israel, accusing it of detonating pagers across Lebanon on Tuesday.
Blinken met Egypt’s president Abdel fattah al-sisi, before talking with foreign minister Badr Abdelatty who assured that Egypt will continue to discuss with stakeholders to bring an end to the senseless death of innocent civilians.
Blinken on his part, said his agenda is to get a proposal that would secure agreement from both parties to an Israel Hamas ceasefire, while emhpasing that the US is willing to explore areas of mutual interest in deepening ties with Egypt.
Blinken will head from Cairo to Paris on Thursday for a meeting with the foreign ministers of France, Italy and Britain to discuss the middle east and Ukraine and other issues, he will however not visit Israel on this trip.
