On 8 January Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi welcomed Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Cairo for the 10th Trilateral Summit of the three countries, a cooperation framework that has proven its worth and utility over the years.

The three countries, which enjoy excellent relations on multiple levels, reaffirmed their commitment to regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean in the light of the new situation in Syria and the new realities in West Asia affecting Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, and the Red Sea region.

The leaders of Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus issued a joint statement saying that “recognising the challenges and opportunities in our region, we aim to build on our shared interests and continue working together to enhance security, economic prosperity, and sustainable development for our peoples.”

“We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the trilateral cooperation mechanism and expanding our trilateral collaboration with regional and international partners to tackle global challenges and promote stability.”

The leaders of Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece further affirmed their commitment to fostering peace and stability in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa, while also addressing the Palestinian, Syrian, Libyan, and Sudanese crises. They called on all the parties to enhance stability and refrain from provocation.

The three countries laid special emphasis on maritime security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and committed to continue their steadfast fight against terrorist, criminal, and human-trafficking networks by upgrading their intelligence-sharing mechanisms.

The joint statement also focused on the economy, energy security, culture, and tourism, among other fields of cooperation. Major Greek and Cypriot companies participated in the business forum held on the sidelines of the Tripartite Summit, meeting their Egyptian counterparts and establishing transnational networks for fruitful cooperation.

“We reaffirm the need to uphold the profound and productive cooperation among our countries,” President Al-Sisi said during the press conference after the Summit, emphasising Egypt’s commitment to regional stability and the promotion of shared national interests.

Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis underscored the common viewpoint held by the three countries on major issues and regarding existing and emerging challenges. The three countries agreed to further promote their close ties, condemned terrorism and foreign interference in state sovereignty, and praised the protection of maritime borders and the respect for international law. They also emphasised the need to combat irregular migration and deal with economic difficulties.

The recent events in Syria with the toppling of the regime led by former president Bashar Al-Assad and its replacement by the new regime in Damascus were among the issues discussed. The new regime is controlled by the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham group, the successor of Jabhat Al-Nusra, a splinter group of Al-Qaeda.

Egypt has been steadfast in its combat against terrorism and has adopted a cautious wait-and-see attitude to events in Syria, while at the same time calling for an inclusive political process in the country with no external interference. Greece shares the same approach and supports the drafting of an inclusive political roadmap for Syria without external interference from neighbouring countries. The new regime in power in Syria must prove its goodwill through specific foreign-policy choices.

Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus celebrated a milestone of close cooperation during the 10th Trilateral Summit. The three countries are the guarantors of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and are moving forward through an enhanced mode of cooperation that includes increased contacts and the promotion of shared interests.

The writer is adjunct lecturer in Geopolitics at the University of Athens in Greece.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 16 January, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly