The United States on Monday called on Egypt to make “concrete and lasting” progress in terms of human rights, at the opening of their “strategic dialogue” with this ally regularly accused by independent organizations of violating individual freedoms.
“This is necessary to strengthen our bilateral relations,” warned the head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken when receiving his counterpart Sameh Choukri in Washington.
“The United States will continue to support these efforts by all means”, he added, assuring that the subject would be on the menu of the two days of talks between the delegations.
Welcoming the launch of the Cairo government strategy on human rights, he promised to help his ally in the implementation of certain “key objectives”, such as the reform of pre-trial detention or the protection “of the right to a free press and freedom of expression “.
“There are also other issues that concern us, where positive steps can be taken. Not because the United States or others are asking for it, but because” it is “in the interests of the Egyptians. , insisted Antony Blinken.
The Egyptian minister defended for his part a “progressive process specific to each country”, “taking into account its specific” religious, social or cultural.
US President Joe Biden claims to make human rights and the promotion of democracy a priority of his foreign policy, breaking away from his predecessor Donald Trump.
But this principle often clashes with the interests of the United States when it comes to allies considered crucial, such as Egypt in the Middle East.
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