On the 8^th of March 2016, the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs welcomed a delegation from the US Air War College. The delegation included 18 students and was led by Colonel James Drape, the American Air attaché in Cairo. The meeting was attended by Ambassadors/ Mounir Zahran, Mohamed Shaker, Ehab Wahba, Ezzat Saad, Wafaa Baseem and Azzmi Khalifa, and Generals/ Mohamed Ibrahim El-Deweiry, Ahmed Abd El Halim and Hesham El Halaby. 

Ambassador Dr. Mounir Zahran chaired the meeting in which the American delegation asked to discuss several issues, in particular the following:

1)Egypt’s role in the international effort against ISIS;
2)Egypt’s Vision as a Regional Power and its role in the Arab world;
3)Egypt’s concerns over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam;
4)Future steps after the completion of the Political road map;
5)Egypt’s relationship with the U.S., how it was affected by the revolution and the suspension of military funding in 2014 and where it will go in the future?
6)Current relationship with Israel and Egypt’s role in resolving the Palestinian question.

Ambassador Zahran emphasized that the council’s members are willing to explain and analyze the American delegation’s proposed topics for discussion. He talked about the bilateral relations between the two countries, especially the economic ties that contribute to the increase in foreign investment in Egypt. He stressed that Egypt is facing a huge challenge in the fight against terrorism through its temporary seat in the UN Security Council.

Ambassador Ezzat Saad explained the internal challenges that Egypt is facing recently which the American delegation asked about. He stated that the Egyptian counterpart is willing to know the American vision about the region and the future of the US Presidential election.

At the end of the discussion meeting, Colonel James Drape awrded ECFA the shield of the US Air War College for the year 2016. In return, Ambassador Zahran handed the US Air attaché a book on the history of Egypt since 1800