Egypt’s water security is ‘existential issue’, stresses Madbouly to the UN

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly highlighted to the United Nations that Egypt's water security is an existential matter, one that cannot be compromised. Delivering Egypt's address on behalf of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the UN General Assembly's 81st Session in New York, Madbouly affirmed his nation's right to protect its water resources and rejected unilateral actions that infringe upon its historical water allocations.

He emphasized that this stance does not negate the rights of other countries to develop through cooperation.

Madbouly stressed the importance of restoring confidence in the international system and fostering effective multilateralism. He called for a system that respects the principle of sovereign equality and adheres to international law, ensuring every nation has a voice and opportunities to participate in decision-making. He pointed out that the world is changing faster than governance institutions can respond, and the crisis lies in the gap between proclaimed principles and their implementation, as well as the imbalance of decision-making power between states and affected populations.

Madbouly argued that the world does not require superficial multilateralism that only serves as a platform for discussions; instead, it needs a system in which all states have a say and can fairly share in decision-making, opportunities, and resources. He noted the erosion of trust in collective action and the multilateral system, emphasizing the urgent need to uphold international law, avoid polarization, and eliminate double standards.

Restoring trust requires fairness in representation and decision-making, law enforcement, and the distribution of development opportunities.

Turning to regional issues, Madbouly presented Egypt's comprehensive vision on various regional and international matters. He highlighted Palestine's turmoil as the most glaring example of the flaws within the international system, warning against normalizing such situations. He called for the stabilization of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the cessation of violations, the timely delivery of humanitarian aid, and the empowerment of the National Committee for the Management of Gaza.

These steps, he said, aim to facilitate reconstruction and a transition towards a serious political process that addresses the conflict's root causes and leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Madbouly reiterated Egypt's firm opposition to any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land and declared Egypt's rejection of regional states' fragmentation or the creation of entities separate from their national institutions. He warned that supporting armed groups and undermining state sovereignty can fuel civil conflicts and endanger regional security and international navigation.

Madbouly also advocated for a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council and the international financial system to ensure equitable representation and decision-making, better supporting the Global South's emerging economies without imposing additional burdens.

He stressed the indispensable link between climate action, development, and poverty eradication. Regarding technology and military affairs, Madbouly stressed the importance of establishing comprehensive frameworks for artificial intelligence governance to protect privacy. He reiterated Egypt's opposition to arms races and its commitment to a disarmament regime free from double standards, emphasizing that reforming the international system is closely linked to resolving the region's crises.