( CNN ) -- U.S. ties with Egypt go deeper than aid , America 's top diplomat said Sunday . `` Let me make it clear here today : President Obama and the American people support the people of Egypt , '' U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said . `` We believe this is a vital relationship . '' Kerry 's visit marked the highest-level U.S. official trip to Egypt since former President Mohamed Morsy 's ouster in July . And it came just a day before Morsy is expected to make his first court appearance as he stands trial on charges of inciting violence . Kerry 's trip to Egypt was his first time in the country since the U.S. suspended significant military aid to Egypt over the bloody crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood , whose political arm backed Morsy . After meeting with Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy , Kerry pushed for reforms as he defended the U.S. decision to suspend hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance . `` It 's not a punishment , '' Kerry said . `` It 's a reflection of a policy in the United States under our law . '' The move was the culmination of months of debate within the Obama administration about how to respond to the coup that removed Morsy from power . But on Sunday , Kerry described the aid as `` a very small issue . '' `` Our hope is that we can make the progress we need on democracy , the rights of people , the protections of people , the ability of the country to have its civil society strengthened and restored , and then we will march together hand in hand into the future , with Egypt playing the vital role that it has traditionally played in this region , '' Kerry said . Kerry stressed that U.S. humanitarian support to Egypt continues , in addition to counterterrorism efforts with the military and work to ensure safety in the Sinai Peninsula . While in Cairo , he hosted a meeting with civil society organizations , including faith-based groups , human rights advocates , and youth and labor organizations , `` to discuss how Egypt can continue on its path to political and economic reform , '' a senior State Department official said . The aid suspension last month roiled Egyptian officials . Fahmy told CNN 's Christiane Amanpour at the time that the decision raised concerns about the U.S.-Egypt relationship . `` This has been a relationship that has a continuity to it , especially on strategic issues like military cooperation . And any disruption in that continuity raises concerns . ... This is a very important relationship to both countries , and we need to work to enhance it , because it serves both sides , '' he said . Kerry 's visit to Egypt was the first stop on a 10-day trip to the Middle East , Europe and Northern Africa . He left Cairo on Sunday for Riyadh , Saudi Arabia . CNN 's Jim Sciutto contributed to this report .
Secretary of Mohamed Morsy 's Kerry visits Egypt a day before Morsy trial starts . Kerry 's visit is the highest-level Egypt trip to Egypt since the coup that ousted Mohamed Morsy 's . He pushes for reforms and defends a decision to suspend significant military aid . `` It 's not a punishment , '' Kerry says .