Egypt's Sisi heads to Saudi Arabia for talks with king, officials

Saturday 2 May 2015. Ahram (Egypt)

The visit comes days after King Salman ordered a reshuffle in the kingdom’s top leadership, and ahead of major joint military manoeuvres in Saudi territory

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi with Saudi King Salman — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (R) meets Saudi King Salman in Sharm El-Sheikh March 28, 2015 (Photo: The Egyptian Presidency)

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is heading to Saudi Arabia Saturday for talks with top Saudi leadership, presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef told the MENA state news agency. Cairo announced El-Sisi’s trip only hours before the president’s plane departed to Riyadh. Egypt has been a key participant in the Saudi-led military operation in Yemen to stop the advance of Iran-backed Houthi rebels.In April, following a meeting between El-Sisi and Saudi Defence Minister Mohammed Ibn Bin Salman, Egypt announced it would take part in major military manoeuvres with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, set to take place in Saudi Arabia. El-sisi’s trip to Riyadh comes just days after King Salman carried out a major reshuffle in top-level positions in the cabinet and royal court. The King’s move included the elevation of the current Minister of Defence Mohamed Ibn Salma toSaudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, has supported the post-Morsi government in Cairo with billions of dollars in aid.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have recently spearheaded calls for the formation of a joint Arab military force.