President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Egypt on Tuesday for the summit of the trilateral co-operation mechanism.
Sisi praised the historic friendship and close ties among the three nations, stressing the importance of continuing to strengthen constructive co-operation within the trilateral framework, which has become a model for regional collaboration aimed at achieving stability and development in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Cypriot and Greek leaders commended the launch of the Alamein International Air and Space Exhibition 2026 and expressed their keenness to enhance trilateral co‑operation, describing the mechanism as a leading platform for consolidating peace and supporting regional security.
The summit addressed ways to boost co‑operation in trade, investment, energy, tourism, education and culture, as well as migration and labour mobility, with emphasis on security collaboration to confront shared challenges such as irregular migration and organised crime. Regional and international developments were reviewed, with President Sisi underscoring Egypt’s efforts to restore peace and stability and avoid escalation in the Middle East.
On Palestine, the President stressed the need to uphold the ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid without obstacles, reiterating Egypt’s firm position that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital is the only path to lasting peace and stability.
The summit also touched on the Nile water issue, which President Sisi described as existential for Egypt and a matter of national security, appreciating the supportive stance of Greece and Cyprus. The leaders agreed on the importance of full adherence to international law principles governing transboundary rivers, including non‑harm, prior notification and rejection of unilateral measures.
The three leaders highlighted the positive momentum in Egypt’s relations with the European Union under the 2024 strategic partnership agreement.
At the joint press conference, President Sisi emphasised that the trilateral mechanism has become a model of strategic regional co‑operation, built on mutual respect, shared benefit and the upholding of international law. He affirmed that the shared will of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece to support stability would contribute to laying the foundations of peace in the region.
He pointed to energy as a leading area of co‑operation, highlighting Egypt’s commitment to electricity interconnection projects, particularly the “GREGY” project with Greece, which he described as a turning point in regional integration in clean energy. He also underlined the strategic co‑operation with Cyprus in natural gas, aiming to transfer gas to Egypt’s infrastructure and re‑export to Europe, noting that this would secure energy supplies while delivering economic benefits to the peoples of the three countries.
The President drew attention to promising investment opportunities in Egypt across IT, tourism, industry, health, education and construction, encouraging stronger partnerships between the private sector and chambers of commerce and industry in the three nations.
He stressed that the trilateral partnership extends to security and military co‑ordination to confront terrorism, organised crime and irregular migration, and must be based on respect for sovereignty, support for national institutions, and prioritising dialogue and political settlement.
In addition, the president reiterated Egypt’s call for de‑escalation in the Middle East, rejection of attempts to destabilise Arab states, and full support for their stability. On Palestine, he reaffirmed Egypt’s rejection of displacement or demographic changes in the Palestinian territories, insisting that peace will only be achieved through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He also addressed Libya, stressing support for a Libyan‑led path to simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections, ending division, and ensuring the departure of foreign forces and mercenaries. On Syria, he emphasised the need to preserve unity and territorial integrity and advance a comprehensive political process. He further discussed Sudan, the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, underscoring that comprehensive political settlements based on dialogue and respect for the will of peoples are the only path to ending crises.
Concluding, President Sisi affirmed the commitment of Egypt, Greece and Cyprus to continue developing the trilateral framework and strengthening its mechanisms to meet the aspirations of their peoples for a more secure, stable and prosperous future. He welcomed his counterparts once again, stressing that the future of the region will be shaped through genuine partnerships founded on international law.
