US-Egypt Dialogue Regains 'Stronger Base' - Kerry

The United States and Egypt are returning to a "stronger base" in their dialogue despite a previous cooling in their relationships, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday.

CAIRO (Sputnik) – Kerry is currently on his visit to Egypt. Earlier in the day, he arrived in Cairo to resume a strategic dialogue and hold the first high-level talks between the United States and Egypt since 2009.

"US and Egypt are moving back to a stronger base of relationship" despite “a little bit of tensions here and there over certain issues,” Kerry said in a joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukri.

Kerry expressed concern about certain to human rights protection in Egypt, but added it would not undermine the resumption of bilateral ties.

In 2013, US-Egypt relations deteriorated following the overthrow of Egyptian then-President Mohammed Morsi and the following crackdown on his supporters from the Muslim Brotherhoods movement. Amid the unrest, Washington suspended its long-lasting arms deliveries to Cairo.

In March, US President Barack Obama lifted the ban to help combat the terrorism in the region, including the Islamic State militant group.