Egypt's Sisi visits Saudi Arabia for 3rd time this year
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi has visited the Persian Gulf Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shortly after a high-level shake up of the country’s royal family, including its long-time foreign minister.
Sisi was welcomed Saturday at a military airbase in the Saudi capital of Riyadh by the monarchy’s new Crown Prince Mohamed bin Nayef and Deputy Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
The visit is Sisi’s third to the kingdom so far this year.
The top Egyptian official, who previously served as the country’s army chief, is expected to hold talks with King Salman bin Abdulaziz on bilateral relations as well as other issues of mutual concern, the report added without elaborating.
Saudi Arabia was among the first Arab states to welcome the ouster of Egypt’s democratically elected former President Mohamed Morsi in a military coup led by Sisi in July 2013.
The US-backed kingdom has funneled billions of dollars to the Egyptian government to help maintain the country’s staggering economy following Morsi's overthrow.
The visit came after Egypt joined a Saudi military coalition in its aggression against the impoverished Yemeni nation.
Egypt’s presidential office stated that Sisi will also offer his congratulations to bin Nayef and bin Salman for their appointments as heirs to the throne.
King Salman issued a royal decree on Wednesday relieving Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz and also Foreign Minister Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of their positions.
According to the decree, Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been appointed as the new heir to the throne. Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir was also appointed as the new foreign minister replacing Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud after 40 years at the helm of the kingdom’s foreign ministry.
MFB/NT/AS
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