Egypt and India launch 'Cyclone-4' joint military exercise

US House majority leader praises El-Sisi’s Middle East peace efforts

Steve Scalise, the Republican majority leader in the US House of Representatives, praised President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his efforts to promote peace in the Middle East and strengthen the strategic partnership between Egypt and the US. This occurred during a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on April 15, 2026. Scalise highlighted the depth of bilateral ties and commended Egypt’s role in supporting regional security and stability. Abdelatty underscored the importance of the Egypt-US strategic partnership as a cornerstone for advancing security, stability, and development across the region, and expressed Egypt’s aspiration to expand cooperation across political, economic, trade, and investment sectors. The talks also covered regional developments amid the current crisis in the Middle East, with Abdelatty outlining Egypt’s efforts to promote stability through intensive engagement, de-escalation, easing tensions, and containing the crisis. He reaffirmed that negotiations are the most effective path to resolving conflicts. Discussions also addressed the Palestinian cause and the situation in Lebanon, with Abdelatty reviewing Egypt’s position on the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Israeli attacks on Lebanon.