Egypt and Malaysia Discuss Political Settlement for Middle East Conflict

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have discussed the need for a political settlement to end the conflict in the Middle East during al-Sisi’s two-day state visit to Malaysia.

The visit was described as the first by an Egyptian leader to Malaysia in nearly three decades. The talks covered the situation in Gaza, wider regional tensions and efforts to deepen relations between Egypt and Malaysia.

Support for two-state solution reaffirmed

Both leaders condemned Israeli military actions in Gaza and reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Their stated position is based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said, “We have taken a strong position vis-a-vis the atrocities inflicted upon the people of Palestine and Gaza due to the intransigence and violence perpetrated by Israel.”

The discussions also included tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, as well as developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.

Al-Sisi said he had highlighted the importance of a broad political settlement during his discussions with Ibrahim.

“I also spoke with the Prime Minister about the situation in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. I emphasised the importance of reaching a comprehensive political settlement as the only way to end all the region’s crises,” the Egyptian president said.

Economic cooperation on agenda

Alongside the regional discussions, the two leaders considered ways to strengthen bilateral ties and expand economic cooperation. Egypt and Malaysia signed four memoranda of understanding covering women’s empowerment, higher education, tourism and investment.

Ibrahim described Egypt as “a very important country in the Arab world and in Africa” and said closer cooperation could support Malaysia’s commercial interests.

“Therefore, the collaboration with Egypt will give Malaysia an immense role and opportunity to expand our trade and general investments, tourism, in all fields,” he said.

Egypt was Malaysia’s seventh-largest trading partner in Africa in 2025, with bilateral trade reaching $720 million, according to the reported figures. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry separately reported that trade rose 74.7 per cent to $870 million during the January-August 2026 period.

The visit combined discussions on regional diplomacy with agreements intended to broaden cooperation in education, tourism, investment and women’s empowerment.