Greece, Cyprus and Egypt are holding a trilateral summit in El Alamein today, with the three countries seeking closer coordination to promote regional stability amid a critical geopolitical environment.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will discuss developments across the wider region and ways to strengthen cooperation, with security remaining a central priority.
The summit comes as Turkey has adopted increasingly assertive rhetoric over regional developments, warning that it “will not remain inactive in the face of actions it considers hostile.”
Greece seeks clarity on Mecca defence agreement
Greece and Cyprus recognise Egypt’s important regional role and are seeking an exchange of views with President Sisi, particularly following the signing of the Mecca defence agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Through both the trilateral summit and a bilateral meeting between Mitsotakis and Sisi earlier today, the Greek side is expected to seek further information about the new defence cooperation between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and the reasons Egypt has so far remained outside the agreement.
During a press conference at the Thessaloniki International Fair, Mitsotakis said he did not know many details about the Mecca agreement but described it as a development that deserved close monitoring. He also announced plans to visit Riyadh in the near future.
Greece and Egypt strengthen strategic ties
Greece also aims to further strengthen its strategic relationship with Egypt through the bilateral and trilateral talks.
Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has stressed Greece’s role within the EU in advancing closer ties with Cairo and supporting the release of important economic protocols aimed at strengthening the Egyptian economy following the impact of the Iran crisis and previous regional crises.
Energy cooperation also remains an important part of the Greek-Egyptian relationship. The two countries are now linked through the GREGY electricity interconnection project, which receives EU co-financing and is expected to feature in the talks between Mitsotakis and Sisi.
The two leaders will also discuss migration and developments in Libya, where international efforts continue to seek a political settlement and reunification of the divided country.
Regional security and Turkey on the agenda
The leaders are also expected to discuss Greece’s upcoming presidency of the UN Security Council, which begins on October 1, and ways to advance issues of mutual interest.
The talks will also focus on wider regional developments, particularly the situation in Iran, the growing tensions between Turkey and Israel and increased Turkish activity in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean.
A series of telephone conversations between Gerapetritis and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, preceded today’s summit. The two ministers held detailed discussions on developments in the region and ways to strengthen the trilateral framework between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt.
All three foreign ministers — Gerapetritis, Cyprus’ Konstantinos Kombos and Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty — will attend the consultations.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister had visited El Alamein in mid-August for talks with Abdelatty and Sisi, shortly after the signing of the Mecca agreement.
The three leaders are also expected to discuss what Greece describes as escalating Turkish violations, including the proposed Turkish legislation concerning the “Blue Homeland” doctrine.
The latest incident occurred on Monday, when two armed Turkish F-16s violated the Athens FIR and Greek fighter jets intercepted them in accordance with international rules and established procedures.
The summit takes place against the backdrop of a new warning from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said Turkey would not remain inactive in the face of actions it considers hostile in the region.
Meanwhile, Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to arrive in Nicosia on Thursday for talks with Cypriot President Christodoulides, with the two sides expected to explore ways to deepen cooperation and strengthen Cyprus-Israel relations.
The three leaders are scheduled to make joint statements at 2:30pm local time, after which the Greek delegation is expected to return to Athens.
