{"id":203551,"date":"2026-09-03T09:40:44","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T07:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/sala_stampa\/archivionotizie\/\/2026\/09\/italia-ed-egitto-una-storia-millenaria-una-responsabilita-comune-per-il-futuro-del-mediterraneo\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T15:44:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T13:44:09","slug":"italia-ed-egitto-una-storia-millenaria-una-responsabilita-comune-per-il-futuro-del-mediterraneo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/sala_stampa\/archivionotizie\/interviste\/2026\/09\/italia-ed-egitto-una-storia-millenaria-una-responsabilita-comune-per-il-futuro-del-mediterraneo\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cItaly and Egypt: a history stretching back millennia, a shared responsibility for the future of the Mediterranean\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editorial by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani<\/em><\/p>\n

I am in Cairo today for my sixth mission to Egypt as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Six visits that illustrate, better than many figures, the importance Italy attaches to its relationship with this country. A relationship with roots that run far deeper than politics: Italy and Egypt are two great Mediterranean civilisations, linked by millennia of history, encounters and exchanges. The Mediterranean has helped to shape our cultures and continues to unite us to this day, bringing our peoples naturally closer together and making our interests increasingly aligned. It is from this shared history that a shared responsibility for the present and future of our region also arises.<\/p>\n

In recent years, this proximity has led to an increasingly intense political dialogue, just as the Mediterranean and the Middle East were going through one of the most complex periods in their recent history. Rome and Cairo have maintained a constant dialogue on the crises, but above all on possible solutions.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s mission aims to take another step in this direction. I will be meeting President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, with whom I have held numerous talks over the years, and Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty, with whom I will co-chair the Italian-Egyptian Joint Committee. The mission is also being attended by the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, and the Minister for Labour and Social Policies, Marina Calderone, whilst over a hundred Italian companies will be taking part in the Italy-Egypt Business Forum. Politics, security, energy, employment, businesses: we wanted to give this visit a broad scope because our partnership is now so wide-ranging.<\/p>\n

There is one word that links many of the interests we share: stability. For Italy and Egypt, this is not an abstract concept of foreign policy. It means a Middle East where dialogue and diplomacy prevail, a stable Libya, a safer Horn of Africa, and open and secure trade routes. It means creating the right conditions for businesses to invest, for economies to grow and for young people to look to the future with confidence. And this is the common thread linking many of the major issues on which Italy and Egypt can work together.<\/p>\n

The most pressing test is Gaza. The priority remains the protection of the Palestinian civilian population and the reduction of violence. But at the same time, we must look to the future. There is still a long way to go, and the disarmament of Hamas is a crucial step towards establishing lasting security and restoring a political future for the region. In this endeavour, Egypt plays a vital mediating role, which Italy recognises and supports, thereby reaffirming its role as a pillar of stability amidst numerous crises.<\/p>\n

For us, that prospect remains the Two-State Solution: Israel and Palestine, side by side, in peace and security. In Rome, we brought together the Global Alliance on the Two-State Solution and organised a seminar on interfaith dialogue, because I am convinced that diplomacy must go hand in hand with dialogue between religions and cultures. Given its history and its extraordinary influence within the Islamic world, Al-Azhar can make a vital contribution to building a culture of coexistence and peace.<\/p>\n

And whilst we are working on policy, we must not forget those who are suffering. Egypt is making an enormous effort on behalf of the Palestinian people. Italy is also playing its part. Through \u2018Food for Gaza\u2019, we have mobilised humanitarian aid and are the leading Western country in terms of medical evacuations from the Gaza Strip: we have taken in 260 young Palestinian patients and over 700 accompanying adults, thanks in part to Egypt\u2019s vital assistance. Diplomacy and solidarity must go hand in hand.<\/p>\n

But the challenge we face is not confined to Gaza. The security of the entire region depends on the ability to ease tensions on other fronts as well. Lebanon\u2019s stability is essential to the balance of power in the Middle East. Rome aspires to be a capital of peace and has hosted rounds of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, demonstrating that even in the most difficult times there is room for dialogue.<\/p>\n

The same applies to the safety of major shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are two vital arteries of world trade: whatever happens in those straits quickly reaches our ports, our businesses and our economies. Freedom of navigation must always be guaranteed. In the Red Sea, Italy is making a tangible contribution to this objective through its participation in the European mission ASPIDES.<\/p>\n

It is this very shared interest that leads us to turn our attention to Libya, Sudan and the Horn of Africa. A stable, united and sovereign Libya is essential for the security of the entire Mediterranean. The ongoing war in Sudan and the instability in the Horn of Africa are having consequences that extend far beyond the region\u2019s borders, including via the Red Sea: we must work to put an end to the violence, combat human rights violations and reaffirm respect for international law, whilst seeking to de-escalate tensions amongst all the key players.<\/p>\n

In this context, Italy and Egypt also share a significant responsibility in combating cross-border threats, from terrorism to human traffickers, and in managing migration flows. We recognise the significant progress made by Egypt in reducing irregular departures from its territory and the considerable efforts it has made in receiving migrants and refugees. We wish to further strengthen our already excellent cooperation in combating irregular migration and criminal organisations, whilst at the same time promoting legal migration channels that can meet the needs of our economies. Through the Mattei Plan, too, we wish to invest in training and skills development, promoting channels for regular migration that can provide Italy with skilled workers and offer new employment opportunities to young Egyptians, in the interests of both countries.<\/p>\n

Stability must, however, also translate into development, employment and opportunities. This is also why Italy strongly supports the strengthening of relations between the European Union and Egypt. We need to bring our economies even closer together: more trade, more investment, more connections, and more businesses working together.<\/p>\n

It is here that we get to the economic heart of my mission. Italy is already Egypt\u2019s leading European trading partner. In 2025, our trade reached EUR 5.9 billion, up 11.7 per cent, and in the first five months of 2026 it recorded a further increase of 7.5 per cent. These are significant figures. But I am convinced that they do not yet reflect the full potential of our relationship.<\/p>\n

That is why the Italy-Egypt Business Forum is one of the key events of the visit. Over a hundred Italian companies and nearly 600 participants will gather in Cairo. Thanks to the efforts of the Embassy of Italy and ITA, a series of one-to-one meetings between businesses will take place throughout the day to create new opportunities for collaboration and investment. Energy and the green transition, infrastructure, advanced industrial technologies, digitalisation and agritech will be among the key sectors at the heart of the discussions. Our ambition is to go beyond simply increasing trade: we want to invest, produce and grow together.<\/p>\n

We already have a solid foundation on which to build. Energy is one of the cornerstones of our partnership. Eni has been operating in Egypt for decades, and the major discoveries made in the country \u2013 starting with the Zohr field \u2013 have become a symbol of strategic industrial collaboration. Today we want to extend this experience to renewable energy, hydrogen and green transition technologies. The weekly ferry service between Trieste and Damietta also provides concrete evidence of what we can do to bring our production systems closer together and further boost trade in the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n

This is also the philosophy behind the Mattei Plan. Egypt is a focus country under the Plan and a priority partner for Italian development cooperation. We want to build a partnership of equals, based on investment, training, innovation and shared growth. Given its size, geographical location and political role, Egypt could be one of the key players in an increasingly close relationship between Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa.<\/p>\n

And then there is something that the sales figures fail to reveal: the great enthusiasm for Italy that can be felt in Egypt. We see this in the interest shown in our language and culture, in the young people who look to Italian universities, in the relationships between researchers, artists and cultural institutions, and in the extraordinary tradition of Italian archaeological missions. And we know just how strong the fascination with Egypt, its history and its civilisation is in Italy. It is a bond between peoples, even more so than between governments, which we must continue to nurture.<\/p>\n

It is this depth that makes the relationship between Italy and Egypt so special. History has brought us closer together; our shared interests and the challenges of the present call on us today to transform this closeness into an even stronger partnership.<\/p>\n

The message I am bringing to Cairo is simple: Egypt can count on Italy. We have millennia of history behind us and challenges ahead that no one can tackle alone. Stability and growth, security and development, diplomacy and dialogue between peoples are all part of the same project.<\/p>\n

It is on this basis that we wish to build the next chapter in relations between Italy and Egypt and work together towards an increasingly stable, secure and prosperous Mediterranean.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Editorial by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani I am in Cairo today for my sixth mission to Egypt as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Six visits that illustrate, better than many figures, the importance Italy attaches to its relationship with this country. A relationship with roots that […]","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":203431,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[6,28],"class_list":["post-203551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviste","tag-mediterraneo-e-medio-oriente","tag-ministro"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203551"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":203554,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203551\/revisions\/203554"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}