The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq stressed in a tripartite meeting on Monday their countries’ commitment to continue economic cooperation, discussed challenges to Arab water rights, and coordinated stances on the Palestinian cause.

“The foreign ministers expressed [their] satisfaction with what has been achieved during the past period since the Amman tripartite summit in August 2020,” a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry read.

The meeting, which brought together the foreign ministers of the three countries — Sameh Shoukry, Ayman Safadi, and Fuad Hussein — comes ahead of an Arab League emergency meeting on the Palestinian cause that will be held later today.

Tripartite ministerial meetings have been regularly taking place in recent months among the three countries within the framework of implementing developmental projects and enhancing economic cooperation.

During the Monday meeting, the foreign ministers reviewed the latest developments at strategic fields in the cooperation between the three countries, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.

They also discussed means to boost these relations towards achieving economic integration and mutual benefits for the peoples of the three countries.

“They have affirmed their countries’ commitment to continue the approach of mutual cooperation and firm coordination with the aim of accelerating the implementation of strategic projects, which are in the interest of the three countries and the region as a whole,” the statement added.

The tripartite meeting today reaffirmed the  three countries’ unified stance towards the challenges that undermine Arab water rights, the ministry said.

“The meeting also confirmed that the Arab water security issue is of high priority,” the statement added. This recognition by the three countries comes at a time when Egypt is intensifying its efforts to secure regional and international support for its water rights in a decade-long dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).  

The meeting also addressed political coordination on regional issues, such as the Palestinian cause and the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis, as well as the situation in Yemen, Syria, and Libya.

The ministers stressed the need to reach political solutions to the conflicts within the Arab world and halt foreign intervention in countries’ affairs so that their sovereignty, security, and stability are preserved.

The ministers also agreed to enhance joint efforts to combat terrorists and preserve the security and stability of the region.