The U.S. Ambassador to Cairo, Herro Mustafa, stated that this year’s celebration of the 248th Independence Day by the U.S. Embassy represents a celebration of friendship and partnership between the United States and Egypt.
She added that achieving peace in the Middle East cannot be done without regional partners, with Egypt at the forefront. She stated that Egypt is an indispensable partner in the region, playing a significant role from Gaza to Sudan to Libya.
Mustafa emphasized that the partnership between the two countries extends deeper than political ties, with the United States investing in people, affirming the cooperation between Americans and Egyptians every day in various fields.
She welcomed the Egyptian ministers who attended the reception.
Hiro mentioned that this is her first Independence Day celebration since assuming her position as the U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, highlighting the special significance of the occasion for all Americans, embodying the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for those seeking a better life.
She expressed understanding of the sadness and fear resulting from the experience of war and displacement, whether in Gaza or Sudan, recounting her journey to North Dakota, USA, as a 3-year-old refugee from Kurdistan, Iraq, expressing gratitude to her family for deciding to travel to the United States.
“Although I spoke little English, I understood the meaning of freedom, which allowed me to have hopes and dreams in the United States,” she added.
She emphasized that everyone should enjoy freedom and dignity to achieve their hopes and dreams, explaining that achieving peace in the Middle East is impossible without the partnerships we have with our regional partners.
She stressed that Egypt is an indispensable partner in our efforts to create a more stable and prosperous region, with Egypt’s contributions to regional security and stability, from Gaza to Sudan to Libya, being exceptional, looking forward to continuing our partnership on these issues.
But the partnership between the two countries goes much deeper, according to Hiro, as the United States invests in Egyptian and American individuals who work together side by side, with Americans and Egyptians collaborating every day to enhance economic prosperity, education, expand access to healthcare and clean water, preserve cultural heritage, and provide English language training and job skills for thousands of Egyptian youth.
She added that education, for example, remains the cornerstone of our partnership, with the United States Agency for International Development’s education portfolio estimated at $600 million, being the largest American higher education program in the world.
“Last year alone, we also provided scholarships to about 1,400 talented men and women from underserved communities to study at Egypt’s leading universities in fields contributing to sustainable economic growth and development. Meeting these dream-filled students inspired me, and my team and I are excited to support those aspirations through exchange programs, scholarships, and English language training. The United States is the leading destination for higher education, and I am committed to seeing more Egyptian students complete their education there, not only for their personal benefit but also to enhance mutual understanding between our peoples. I am committed to reciprocating by bringing more American students to Egypt, building those personal experiences and connections that keep our relationship strong,” she stated.
Economically, according to Mustafa, the countries are working to continue supporting Egypt’s distinguished tourism sector.
Last year, Mustafa says the new visitor center was opened at the tomb of Imam Shafi’i in the City of the Dead, representing our latest investment of $100 million in strong partnerships to preserve famous sites like the temples of Luxor, the Sphinx and Giza Plateau, and Bab Zuweila – these are just a few of the famous destinations celebrated by millions of visitors every year.
Regarding security partnership, the American Ambassador sees it as one of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation, where the United States and Egypt together hosted the largest version of Bright Star training held every two years, which included 34 participating countries. Bright Star is the oldest multi-national military exercise in the Middle East and Africa, first held in 1980, serving as a perfect testament to our partnership in maintaining stability in the region.
She added, “To link all these topics – education, economic prosperity, and security – is our work together to protect the Red Sea, perhaps the most important maritime corridor in the world for global trade and a thriving ecosystem featuring some of Egypt’s most attractive marine and wildlife. I recently had the opportunity to visit Marsa Alam and Hurghada, where I saw firsthand the clear waters, marine life, and immense potential for mitigating the effects of climate change.”
She praised the ongoing work of the Egyptian civil society, private sector, and government to invest in preserving Egypt’s ecosystem while finding ways to develop the region sustainably for future generations, which was evident during the climate summit hosted by Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022.