US Vice President Mike Pence shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo on Jan. 20, 2018.

:: Vice President Mike Pence and Egyptian leader Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi pledged a united front against terrorism in the Mideast as Pence, the highest-level American official to visit the US ally in nearly a decade, began a trip through the region after leaving behind a government shutdown in Washington.

Pence and el-Sissi held two-and-a-half hours of talks at the presidential palace in Cairo, with acknowledgements of friendship and partnership between the two countries. Through a translator, Pence listened intently as el-Sisi cited the need to address “urgent issues,” including “ways to eliminate this disease and cancer that has terrified the whole world.”

Pence pointed to President Donald Trump’s efforts to forge stronger ties with el-Sisi in his first year in office, “after a time when our countries seemed to be drifting apart.”

Pence said “we stand shoulder to shoulder with you and Egypt in fighting against terrorism,” and that “our hearts grieve” for the loss of life in recent terrorist attacks against Egyptians.

The vice president noted the deadly attack against Christians in late December, when a militant opened fire outside a suburban Cairo church, killing at least nine people. He also pointed to the killing of 311 worshippers inside a mosque in northern Sinai last November.

“We resolve to continue to stand with Egypt in the battle against terrorism,” Pence said.

Four-day Middle East trip

Pence arrived in Cairo hours after the US Congress and Trump failed to reach agreement on a plan to avert a partial federal closure. Pence went ahead with his four-day trip to the Middle East, citing national security and diplomatic reasons.

Pence’s meetings with el-Sisi delved into security cooperation, economic ties and efforts to fight the Islamic State group.

His visit to the region came more than a month after Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a step that’s enraged Palestinians. El-Sisi identified “the peace issue” as one of the most important issues in their discussions, but the two leaders did not elaborate.

When Pence’s motorcade arrived at the palace, journalists traveling with the vice president were initially barred from exiting their bus. After they were brought into the palace, media were not allowed into a photo session with the two leaders.

Negotiations between US and Egyptian officials followed, and members of the media were eventually were brought into the meeting and heard the leaders deliver short statements.

Pence and el-Sisi did not respond to questions at the end.

Jordan trip

Pence planned to travel to Jordan later Saturday and then to Israel on Sunday. He was not expected to meet with Palestinians officials.

El-Sisi has built a strategic alliance with Trump and urged the American president to become more involved in the fight against militancy in the Middle East. Trump has praised el-Sisi for the April release of Egyptian-American charity worker Aya Hijazi, who had been detained for nearly three years.

But Trump’s designation of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital poses a dilemma for Egypt, which receives extensive military and economic aid from Washington but does not want to appear dismissive of Palestinian concerns.

White House officials said before the Cairo meeting they expected the decision on the Israeli capital and Trump’s plans to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to come up.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has condemned Trump over the Jerusalem announcement and warned that the US can no longer play any role in future peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

El-Sisi has tried to reassure Abbas of his continued efforts to secure an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Pence had initially planned to visit the region in December, shortly after Trump’s announcement, but the trip was postponed in the aftermath of Abbas’ refusal to meet the vice president in Bethlehem.