President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said Egypt lost approximately $20 billion in Suez Canal revenue over recent years due to regional instability, according to remarks made during a meeting with the cabinet, governors, and experts on Tuesday.
The president emphasized that Egypt's foreign policy constants include supporting the security and stability of Gulf Arab states. He stressed the necessity of maintaining freedom of navigation in maritime passages in accordance with international law.
Sisi identified multiple and varied tools being used to attempt harm to Egypt, noting that some operate through social media platforms. He called on the state to develop different instruments to preserve the nation's capabilities, stating that the least costly means of destroying any state is attempting to manipulate its people into carrying out that task.
The president underscored that Egypt's strength lies in its institutions and the awareness of its people. He emphasized that officials must perform with greater trustworthiness and that protecting Egypt is a collective responsibility requiring internal cohesion.
Sisi expressed his commitment to meeting with a number of mayors to hear their ideas, noting that Egypt has 4,500 villages housing 50 percent of the Egyptian population.