Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Supply Minister Sherif Farouk took to the airwaves yesterday, with the two ministers appearing on Ahmed Moussa’s Ala Masouleety and Lamees El Hadidi’s Kelma Akhira to talk Gaza, Syria, Ethiopia, subsidies and everything in between.

“Egypt is open to international or foreign forces in Gaza, provided there’s a political roadmap with a clear timeline leading to a Palestinian state, Abdelatty’s told Moussa in their conversation that spanned the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Gaza, Syria, and more (watch, runtime: 52:23). The foreign minister added that “deployment must occur simultaneously in the West Bank and Gaza.” He added that Egypt is working to host an international conference in Cairo to spearhead Gaza’s reconstruction efforts, “removing rubble and enabling the Palestinian Authority to resume management of the Strip.”

“Egypt maintains strategic partnerships with major global players without aligning against any side,” Abdelatty said. While allied with different nations, the country follows a “balanced foreign policy grounded in strategic equilibrium and guided solely by national interest,” Abdelatty added.

“Egypt has clean hands and no hidden agenda; it works solely for the common Arab interest and the interests of African peoples, aiming for security and development,” Abdelatty said. On the Renaissance Dam, Abdelatty described water as “the most existential issue for Egypt and Sudan,” calling for a binding legal agreement on its operation. “More than 13 years have been wasted without results due to a lack of political will on the other side,” he noted.

When asked about the possibility of Syria’s division, Abdelatty was resolute, telling Moussa “Egypt will not allow this catastrophic scenario to unfold,” warning that such a precedent could pave the way for the division of other Arab nations.

Over on Lamees El Hadidi’s Kelma Akhira, subsidies topped the agenda with Supply Minister Sherif Farouk sitting down for an interview (watch runtime: 1:04:47). “The shift to cash subsidies isn’t being pushed by any international body — it’s under serious review by the ministry, with input from all sides,” the minister told El Hadidi.

“A 2025 rollout for cash-based subsidies isn’t set in stone. If experts and societal dialogue conclude against it, it won’t happen,” Farouk said. “The goal isn’t budget savings but fixing flaws in the current system, despite challenges like high inflation,” Farouk explained, adding that the first phase could include 32–35 essential goods.

“The current budget allocates EGP 135 bn for commodity subsidies — 22% of total subsidy spending. That figure could rise by EGP 100 bn next year. We’re overhauling the system to include the deserving and exclude the ineligible, with flexible, evolving criteria,” he said.

Other key highlights from the supply minister’s remarks:

  • No plans to raise subsidized bread prices this year, despite rising costs to EGP 1.5 per loaf.
  • Sugar prices on ration cards will remain unchanged in 2025.
  • No shortages expected for sugar or other goods.
  • Strategic reserves cover approximately 6 months for wheat, 13+ months for sugar, and 6 months for oil.
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