During the joint trilateral meeting in Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati confirmed Egypt's categorical disagreement with the military or naval presence in the Red Sea of landlocked countries in the region, BTA reports.
Speaking at a press conference with his Eritrean and Somali counterparts, he stressed that countries in the region bear primary responsibility for managing their territories and that the stability and unity of the Red Sea should not be undermined by external forces.
Trilateral cooperation for the stability and security of Somalia.
Abdelati also stated that the countries are committed to the stability of Somalia and the maintenance of its territorial integrity.
In particular, the possibility of building stronger state institutions in Somalia to address the various challenges facing the country and ensure its security was discussed.
Last October, the presidents of Egypt and Somalia held talks in Eritrea, with cooperation in maritime security in the Red Sea region as a key topic, following the signing of a treaty between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which has raised tensions over the construction of a military base in coast.
Faster activation of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
The possibility of faster formation and activation of a peacekeeping mission in Somalia was one of the main topics of discussion. Abdelati stressed the need for adequate funding for these initiatives, as part of efforts to stabilize the region and combat terrorism.
Focus on Sudan: cooperation to address terrorism and stabilize the country.
Egypt, Somalia and Eritrea issued statements on cooperation to strengthen the combat capabilities of the Sudanese army to address terrorist threats. The three countries expressed their commitment to stability in Sudan, after the country went through significant internal conflicts in recent years.