US to Support Egypt in Fight Against Extremists

Kerry said that the United States is committed to backing Egypt’s efforts to fight violent extremism as well as to get its economy back on track.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States is committed to backing Egypt’s efforts to fight violent extremism as well as to get its economy back on track, US State Department Secretary John Kerry said at the Opening Plenary of the Egypt Economic Development Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh.

“The road ahead is absolutely clear and so is the United States determination to support Egypt’s progress in any way that we can… And that includes, in the effort to stand up and fight against extremists and terrorists,” Kerry said on Friday.

Kerry also pledged to “fully empower Egypt’s entrepreneurs and innovators” as well as support Egyptian government’s cooperation with international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“I promise you, directly from President Obama and from this Administration, the full commitment of the United States in this journey towards security, shared prosperity, and peace that the Egyptian people both desire and deserve,” Kerry said.

In late February, the newly sworn-in US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter in a telephone conversation with Egypt’s Defense Minister Sedki Sobhy pledged to enhance the security partnership between Washington and Cairo.