Tillerson stresses US-Egypt security ties on Middle East tour

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US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stressed Washington’s support for Egypt’s fight against Islamic militants on Monday as he began a Middle East tour.

Tillerson arrived in Egypt, one of the main recipients of Washington's foreign aid, at the start of a regional tour amid heightened tension between Israel, Syria and Damascus' ally Iran after an Israeli F-16 aircraft was shot down, crashing in northern Israel.

US-Egypt security ties

Tillerson and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry insisted on Monday that relations between their countries remained strong.

"We agreed we would continue our close cooperation on counter-terrorism measures," Tillerson said. "Egypt deals with the threats of ISIS (ISIL) themselves and are dealing with it certainly currently in the Sinai."

"The US commitment in continuing to support Egypt in its fight against terrorism and bringing security for the Egyptian people is steadfast and will continue.”

Egyptian army vehicles pass on a highway to North Sinai during a major assault against militants, February 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

Egypt last week launched a large military operation against Islamist militants, focused on defeating ISIL in the Sinai peninsula.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a former military chief, gave the armed forces three months to clear Sinai of militants after more than 300 people were killed by gunmen at a mosque in Sinai in November.

The Egyptian army said at least 28 suspected militants have died in clashes since the operation began on Friday.

‘Free and fair' elections

Tillerson called for free and fair elections in all countries ahead of a March presidential vote in Egypt, but withheld direct comment on what critics say is a crackdown on some rivals seeking to challenge Sisi at the polls.

Sisi is running against a single competitor in the March 26-28 poll after more challenging opponents pulled out, some citing intimidation of supporters and other tactics designed to give the incumbent an easy win.

Egypt receives 1.3 billion US dollars annually from the United States. Last year, Washington withdrew some financial aid to Egypt saying it had failed to make progress on respecting human rights and democracy.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) meets with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, Egypt, February 12, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Asked about concerns over the election, Tillerson said the United States supported a credible, transparent vote in Egypt, Libya and elsewhere.

"We have always advocated for free and fair elections, transparent elections not just in Egypt but in any country," Tillerson said.

Egypt says it will conduct free and fair elections, but opponents of Sisi have criticized what they say is a government-led crackdown on challengers.

Later a senior State Department official said some of the issues "pending" in the US-Egyptian relationship included a law regulating nongovernmental organizations, concerns on civil society and "democratic process baskets." The issue of American nationals detained in Egypt was also raised.

US in the Middle East

The US has become more embroiled, diplomatically and militarily, in regional conflicts since President Donald Trump took office more than a year ago.

It stepped up support for Kurdish-led forces in Syria before its NATO ally Turkey began a military operation against them last month, and has sided firmly with Israel in recognizing Jerusalem as its capital, angering Palestinians and drawing rebukes from Arab leaders.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, February 12, 2017. /VCG Photo

Shoukry said Egypt stressed the need for a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Tillerson said Washington remained committed to working for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, adding that Trump's decision on Jerusalem did not set final boundaries for the city and that Washington believes it has an "important role to play to bring a resolution" to the crisis.

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"We discussed how to reach a solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of a two-state solution and the importance of maintaining US efforts to reach this final settlement," Shoukry said.

The US has also forged closer ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states while taking a tougher line against Iran since Trump took office.

Tillerson also met Sisi before leaving the country. He was scheduled to attend a conference on Iraqi reconstruction in Kuwait.

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Source(s): Reuters