US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for talks expected to focus on the Syrian conflict and Iran, according to Egyptian officials, dpa reported.
Hagel was to meet with military and civilian officials during his visit to Egypt, part of a five-nation regional tour, added the officials.
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has repeatedly called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down. However, Morsi has opposed any military intervention in Syria.
Egypt, a regional ally of the United States, has recently shown signs of rapprochement towards Iran after decades of lukewarm relations under former Egyptian president Hosny Mubarak.
Hagel is making his first tour of the Middle East since becoming chief of the Pentagon nearly two months ago.
He has already visited Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. His trip will also take him to the United Arab Emirates.
At the centre of the tour is a 10-billion-dollar arms sales with Arab and Israeli allies, which he has said sends a "very clear signal" to Iran that the military option to counter its controversial nuclear programme is still on the table.