Watan-Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is likely to visit the United States in mid-February, following recent arrangements between Washington and Cairo. These arrangements came after a visit by an envoy from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration last Wednesday, followed by a phone call between the two presidents.
According to official Egyptian sources, Sisi is set to travel to Washington on February 18 to discuss a range of shared issues, with a primary focus on Trump’s proposed plan to relocate Gaza residents to Egypt and Jordan.
The sources stated that Sisi and Trump are also expected to discuss stabilizing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, supporting negotiations for the second phase of the agreement, exploring permanent solutions to the Palestinian issue, and the possibility of advancing a two-state solution as a guarantee for regional stability.
During his visit, Sisi is expected to present a comprehensive Egyptian plan for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gaza without relocating its residents. The plan would also ensure the participation of Gaza’s population in the rebuilding process, in coordination with several key Arab powers. According to Egyptian sources, Sisi’s visit to Washington is likely to be preceded by a similar visit by Jordanian King Abdullah II to meet with Trump.
Trump extended an open invitation to Sisi for a White House meeting during a phone call earlier this week, amid widespread controversy over his plan to relocate Gaza’s residents. In response, Egyptian authorities organized protests by political groups, trade unions, and civil society organizations under state supervision at the Rafah border crossing to reject the American proposal.
Trump has recently reiterated his call to displace Palestinians from Gaza, stating that “Egypt and Jordan should accept them.” When asked by journalists at the White House about the possibility of Egypt and Jordan accepting Palestinian refugees from Gaza, Trump responded, “They will do it,” adding, “We’ve given them a lot, and they will do it.”
Both the Egyptian president and the Jordanian king have rejected Trump’s proposal. Sisi described it as “an injustice that Egypt cannot take part in,” while King Abdullah reaffirmed his country’s “firm stance” on the necessity of “keeping Palestinians on their land.”
The upcoming visits of Sisi and King Abdullah to Washington coincide with Trump’s recent statements claiming “progress” in Middle East talks involving Israel and other nations, ahead of discussions on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
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