- Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon visits Cairo for discussions with Egypt's Foreign Minister on how to get more lifesaving aid to Palestinians in Gaza to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian situation
- Lord Ahmad will discuss the need for an immediate stop in the fighting, leading to a sustainable ceasefire without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life
- Minister for the Middle East will meet businesses and civil society to discuss deepening UK-Egypt ties
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, UN, Commonwealth and the PM's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, arrives in Cairo today [27 March] for talks on Gaza.
In his third visit to the country, Lord Ahmad will meet Foreign Minister of Egypt, H.E Sameh Shoukry, to discuss how the UK and Egypt can work together to get more lifesaving aid to Palestinians in Gaza, and to discuss the need for an immediate stop to the fighting in Gaza, leading to a sustainable peace and irreversible steps towards a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in security and peace.
The UK and Egypt have worked closely throughout the Gaza crisis. The UK has trebled its aid commitment to the Occupied Palestinian Territories this year, with much of the lifesaving support delivered through the airport at Al Arish and Port Said, for onward transfer into Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for Middle East, said:
On my third visit to Cairo since Hamas' terror attack on October 7, I will be discussing with Egyptian counterparts how we can make rapid and meaningful progress towards alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as how to end the fighting in Gaza and achieve irreversible steps towards a two-state solution.
Egypt is a vital partner, and boosting UK-Egypt ties will enable our nations to work towards a shared goal - bringing greater stability to the region.
As my visit coincides with the Holy Month of Ramadan, I am also looking forward to celebrating Egypt's unique culture.
There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza, and the UK and Egypt have been vital players in the global effort to significantly increase lifesaving aid to those in need. The UK remains focused on getting more aid to those in need, by air, sea and road. Working more closely with Egypt is critical to international efforts towards achieving an immediate humanitarian pause in the fighting.
Lord Ahmad's two-day visit is taking place during Ramadan, where he will attend a suhoor reception at the British Embassy in Cairo. The Minister will meet prominent partners across the Egyptian government and members of business and civil society to discuss how the UK can deepen its strategic partnership with Egypt.
The UK's commitment to religious freedom will form an important part of discussions, as the Minister reflects on his experiences of Ramadan on the UK.
This visit follows ongoing diplomatic engagement with Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sameh Shoukry since the start of the conflict, including Lord Ahmad's call with Shoukry on 28 February - and the Foreign Secretary speaking to Shoukry at the G20 Foreign Minister' Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 22 February.
The UK Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Development Minister have all visited Egypt in recent months, signifying the ongoing importance of engaging with regional partners.
