CAIRO — France’s foreign minister said on Thursday he had firmed up security ties with Egypt, which was the “central element” to ensuring regional stability as the two countries seek to break the political impasse in neighboring Libya.

Paris and Cairo have nurtured closer economic and military ties in recent years, and with the rise to power of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that relationship has improved with both sides concerned by the ongoing political vacuum in Libya and the rise of jihadist groups in Egypt.

Speaking after a day of meetings in Cairo, including with Sisi, Jean-Yves Le Drian, who in his previous role as defense minister had developed a personal relationship with Sisi, said the two allies had a “common vision” on how to tackle Islamist militants.

“We had meetings on fighting terrorism and the stabilization of Libya,” Le Drian said during a meeting with Pope Tawadros II, head of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church.

An attack at the end of May on the Coptic community in Cairo by Islamist militants killed 29 people.

“Egypt is the central element for regional stability and when it sways the whole region sways,” Le Drian said. Le Drian’s visit was the second by a French minister this week. Defense Minister Sylvie Goulard held talks with her Egyptian counterpart on Monday on how to reinforce security cooperation including the best way to enhance monitoring of Egypt’s borders.

Diplomats have said that Paris is reviewing its position on the Libyan conflict, with new President Emmanuel Macron deciding to push the issue to the top of his foreign policy agenda.

“Libya is a priority for France,” a French diplomat said.

Libya is split between a U.N.-backed government in Tripoli, which is loosely supported by militias in the west that includes Islamist groups backed by Turkey and Qatar, and eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar, which the United Arab Emirates and Egypt support.