Egypt’s Foreign Minister Warns of Global Economic Pain, Defends Saudi Military Support and U.S. Aid
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has warned that rising oil and food prices and disruptions to global shipping are inflicting widespread economic damage, while defending Egypt’s military assistance to Saudi Arabia and expressing confidence that U.S. military aid to Cairo will continue.
“We are suffering. The whole world is suffering. Africa is suffering,” Abdelatty said in an interview with France 24, pointing to inflation across Europe and the surge in energy and food costs.
He described Egypt as the world's largest net importer of wheat and grain, warning that disrupted supply chains and restrictions on maritime navigation have placed additional pressure on the country's economy and food security.
Turning to Yemen and Saudi Arabia, Abdelatty said Egypt's parliament had authorized President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to provide military assistance to Riyadh, emphasizing that the mission was defensive rather than offensive.
The assistance would focus on air defense capabilities to protect sensitive Saudi facilities, including Islamic holy sites, he explained.
His remarks follow renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and Egypt's decision to strengthen its defensive support for the kingdom. Cairo has maintained that its assistance is intended to protect Saudi territory, not launch attacks against Yemen.
Abdelatty also addressed the future of American military assistance to Egypt, describing it as an essential component of the strategic relationship between Cairo and Washington.
He said he would visit Washington in the coming days for meetings with congressional leaders from both parties and expressed confidence that Foreign Military Financing (FMF) would continue.
The minister's comments come as regional instability weighs on Egypt's economy and maritime trade, particularly traffic through the Suez Canal. Cairo has estimated that disruptions to shipping have cost the canal more than $20 billion in revenue.