Egypt’s national security is closely linked to the incidents taking place in neighboring countries, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said on Sunday.
“What is happening in neighboring countries directly reflected on Egypt’s security,” Sisi said in an interview with "Sky News” channel.
He noted that Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania “represent the western strategic depth to Egypt.”
“The stability of the region is in favor of Egypt” he said.
He noted that Egypt has a clear stance towards the Libyan crisis, saying that Egypt supported the Libyan people's choice and its national army.
Egypt backs a political solution that ensures the unity of Libya, Sisi said.
The Egyptian president stressed that Egypt rejected providing armed militants with weapons and ammunition.
Asked about military intervention in Libya, Sisi denied Egypt’s military interference in Libya, saying: “We are defending our national security and borders from the Egyptian side.”
“The Libyan army represents the people of Libya, because it is a national army and Egypt backs this army in order to extend its ability to all Libyan territories and to protect Libya from extremism and terrorism,” Sisi said.
Sisi called for finding a peaceful solution for the Syrian conflict to get the country out of its crisis.