Saudi Abdullah Meets Egypt’s Al-Sisi in Plane

Local Editor

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah stopped in Cairo late Friday to meet with Egypt's new President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to show his strong support through a symbolic but brief visit.

The 90-year-old monarch, on his way home from Morocco, did not leave his plane, which was on the ground at Cairo airport for just over an hour. Al-Sisi and his delegation were on board for just over 30 minutes.

Egypt's official news agency reported the talks covered the importance of the two nations working together to address regional challenges, a sign of how the Gulf monarchy sees Cairo as a crucial partner .

Through phone calls to al-Sisi, donations of cash and oil products, supportive statements and his visit to Cairo, Abdullah has made clear his approval of former army chief al-Sisi as president.

Abdullah is the first foreign leader to visit al-Sisi since he took office less than two weeks ago to a cooler reception from Western governments.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, and its wealthy Gulf Arab partners Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, have given more than $20 billion to help Egypt since the Brotherhood President Mohammad Mursi was toppled last July, and are likely to pledge more.

Egypt's state news agency MENA reported that the talks covered Iraq, Syria and Libya; and "the importance of coordination and joint action between the two countries to meet the challenges prevailing in the region."

Al-Sisi has not spoken publicly about the Iraq crisis since it erupted days after his inauguration.

No further announcements about financial support immediately emerged from the meeting. Al-Sisi thanked the king for his support to date support and for his initiative in organizing a donor conference to "provide necessary support in the coming period," MENA reported.

The conference was announced by Abdullah 15 minutes after al-Sisi was declared president. A date has not yet been set.

The Egyptian delegation included Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab and the defense and finance ministers.

Abdullah was accompanied by the Saudi foreign affairs and finance ministers as well as security officials and former intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan, al-Arabiya television reported.

Abdullah and Sisi have spoken on the phone since al-Sisi's ouster of Mursi, but it is unclear if they had met before Friday.

After the Egyptian delegation left the monarch's gleaming white plane by escalator, al-Arabiya broadcast footage of the Saudi king standing to shake hands with al-Sisi before sitting to talk with him.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team