Egypt Delays Sisi’s Washington Visit Amid U.S. Pressure Over Gaza Displacement
Cairo Resists U.S. and Israeli Pressure to Accept Palestinian Displacement as Washington Shifts Stance on Ethiopia’s GERD.
Watan-President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has postponed his visit to Washington until after the emergency Arab summit scheduled for February 27 in Cairo. This delay allows the Egyptian president to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump with a unified Arab position in response to Trump’s plan to displace Gazans and seize their land.
Meanwhile, sources in Washington revealed that the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) has intensified pressure on Cairo for refusing to cooperate with Trump’s plan. The Pentagon has warned Egypt’s military leadership that continued resistance to the relocation of Palestinians to Egypt could lead to disruptions in U.S. military aid, including the supply of spare parts and maintenance for Egyptian weaponry.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty, during his recent visit to Washington, conveyed to members of Congress the military establishment’s strong opposition to the plan. He stressed that this rejection spans all levels of Egypt’s military leadership, indicating that implementing such a plan could trigger a crisis threatening Egypt’s stability.
U.S. Backtracks on Support for Egypt in GERD Dispute
In contrast, sources revealed that Abdel Aty encountered a “shocking” shift in the U.S. position regarding support for Egypt in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute. During his meetings with congressional representatives, the Egyptian minister was told that “the time to pressure Ethiopia has run out,” and what the Trump administration could have done during its first term is now more difficult to achieve.
Israeli involvement has reportedly influenced the U.S. stance, with Israel viewing the GERD issue as a potential point of leverage over Egypt, which is seeking a legally binding agreement to manage the dam’s operation and protect its water security.
Egypt Reaffirms Opposition to Palestinian Displacement
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, at a press conference on Thursday, reaffirmed that Gaza remains Cairo’s “top priority.” He added that Foreign Minister Abdel Aty is conducting “shuttle diplomacy” to clarify Egypt’s position, emphasizing the country’s firm stance and complete rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians from their land.
