Egypt deals with US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton "on equal footing," presidency spokesman Alaa Youssef said Thursday.
In a statement, Youssef responded to questions on whether Egypt favours a particular candidate in the US presidential race after Egypt's President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi met with the two candidates In New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
After his meeting, Trump released a statement saying that this encounter with El-Sisi “highlighted how Egypt and the US share a common enemy and the importance of working together in defeating radical Islamic terrorism."
This was Trump's first meeting with a leader of the Muslim world.
The Republican hopeful said he told Egypt's president that "under a Trump administration, the United States of America will be a loyal friend – not simply an ally – that Egypt can count on in the days and years ahead."
During her meeting with El-Sisi, Clinton discussed ways of bolstering counterterrorism cooperation with Egypt, affirming her “commitment to defeating ISIS, to addressing foreign fighters, and to countering radicalisation," according to a press release by her campaign.
The Democratic Party candidate and former US secretary of state also "raised concerns about the prosecution of Egyptian human rights organisations and activists" in Egypt.
El-Sisi flew to New York Sunday to attend the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
