Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi (R) met with US Secretary of Defence James Mattis (L) (Photo: nileinternational.net)

Egyptian Presidency spokesperson Bassam Rady said that President El-Sisi highlighted the strong US-Egyptian strategic relations, emphasizing the need to consolidate cooperation between the two countries, especially in military.

The US Defence minister Mattis noted his country's understanding of Egypt's position as a key pillar of stability in the Middle East. Mattis also expressed his country's support for Egypt in the war against terrorism, and extended condolences for the victims of the terrorist attack on Al-Rawda Mosque in North Sinai last month, which killed 311 worshippers, including 27 children.