El-Sisi and CIA Director Discuss Regional Crises in Cairo

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Cairo on September 20, 2026, for high-level talks focused on regional security crises and bilateral intelligence cooperation. The meeting, also attended by Egyptian General Intelligence Service Director Hassan Rashad, covered the conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, and Somalia, as well as the broader Iranian crisis. During the discussions, President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's support for a comprehensive diplomatic agreement to resolve the Iranian crisis, restore regional security, and ensure freedom of international navigation. He emphasized Egypt's firm backing for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Arab nations and its rejection of aggression against them. On the Palestinian issue, El-Sisi stressed the critical need to fully implement the second phase of the U.S. peace plan to consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza. He called for sustained humanitarian aid access, civilian protection, and the creation of conditions for a political settlement based on international legitimacy and a two-state solution.