CAIRO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met on Tuesday in Cairo with Kenneth McKenzie Jr, the commander of the United States Central Command, and a delegation of U.S. army officials, the Egyptian presidency announced.
According to official Ahram Online news website, Sisi asserted during the meeting the importance of the long-standing strategic relations between Egypt and the United States, especially when it comes to the current military cooperation between the two countries, which is essential in facing current challenges threatening the security and stability of the Middle East.
McKenzie praised the military relations between the two countries, adding that his country is keen to continue boosting partnership and cooperation with Egypt.
McKenzie also expressed his appreciation for the efforts Egypt has made in fighting terrorism, which he said is a common threat facing the whole world, as well as the role Egypt plays in keeping peace and security in the region.
They also discussed the latest developments in the region and the recent crises in several countries.
Although Egypt is a main regional ally to the United States, ties between the two countries were cold under former U.S. President Barack Obama after the Egyptian military ousted former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests.
However, the bilateral relations later improved when incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump took office and boosted cooperation with the Arab country.
Cairo receives an annual military aid of 1.3 billion U.S. dollars from Washington since it signed the 1979 U.S.-sponsored peace treaty with Israel, the U.S. number one regional ally and the top recipient of U.S. aid.
