Egypt, Greece Confirm Consistent Positions in Eastern Mediterranean Region

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in New Alamein City (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in New Alamein City (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt, Greece Confirm Consistent Positions in Eastern Mediterranean Region

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in New Alamein City (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in New Alamein City (Egyptian Presidency)

The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi held a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in New Alamein City, northwest Egypt, on the latter’s first visit to the region after his re-election and the formation of a new Greek new government.

The Egyptian-Greek summit focused on ways to promote bilateral cooperation between the two friendly countries.

Egyptian presidential spokesman, Ahmed Fahmy, said the two leaders exchanged views on regional issues of common interest in light of the two states' common positions in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

They emphasized that the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum is one of the most important tools in this framework.

They also discussed the developments in illegal migration in the Mediterranean basin. Mitsotakis praised Egypt's efforts to combat this phenomenon, in light of the burdens it imposes since millions of refugees are hosted on Egyptian territory.

The meeting addressed several issues of mutual interest, the global consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, and the ongoing concerns in the region, particularly in Libya.

Sisi stressed Egypt's support of the political path in Libya, and the importance of holding presidential and parliamentary elections, exiting all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libyan territory, and restoring Libya's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability.

The spokesman stated that the leaders asserted their mutual interest in the speedy activation and implementation of the agreements and memorandums of understanding signed between the two countries and promoting cooperation in military, economy, culture, energy, natural gas, electrical connectivity, and green transition.

The Egyptian-Greek summit comes in the wake of a rapprochement between Egypt and Türkiye, which culminated in their resumption of diplomatic representation at the level of ambassadors.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited his Egyptian counterpart to visit his country, but the date has yet to be officially announced.

The relations between Greece, Cyprus, and Türkiye are tense because of "Türkiye's illegal activity" to explore gas in maritime areas that Athens and Nicosia say are subject to their sovereignty.

Meanwhile, international and political relations professor at Cairo University, Tarek Fahmy, reiterated the importance of the Egyptian-Greek summit and its symbolism in affirming cooperation between the two countries.

Fahmy told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egypt is a responsible country and manages its bilateral relations with balance and rationality.

Any development of Egyptian-Turkish relations will not be at the expense of Egypt's relations with Greece and Cyprus, said Fahmy, pointing out that the ties have become well-established following international agreements.

Egypt aspires to deepen further the partnership with the countries of the northern Mediterranean, said the expert.

Egyptian-Greek relations witnessed significant development during the past years, and the trade exchange between the two countries jumped 112.8 percent in 2021.

Greek investments in Egypt rank fifth among the EU countries amid efforts to increase the volume of investments five times.

Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus conduct regular naval and air military exercises in the Mediterranean, Medusa, one of the most prominent joint activities of the armed forces.

Fahmy believes Türkiye will join the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum after receiving the approval of the member states and settling several outstanding issues, including the recognition of Cyprus and the demarcation of the maritime borders with Greece, Cyprus, and the eastern Mediterranean countries.

Furthermore, an economics professor at the Cardiff Metropolitan University, Abdellatif Darwish, believes that the Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement may concern Athens.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that Greece believes the Egyptian-Turkish dispute is within its interest and negatively regards the rapprochement between Cairo and Ankara.

Darwish noted significant changes in the eastern Mediterranean region, including the joint European-US desire to calm the tensions between Türkiye and Greece.

He referred to the recent meeting between the Turkish President and the Greek Prime Minister on the sidelines of last month's NATO Summit and the Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement.

The expert noted that all these developments might impact relations between the Mediterranean countries and benefit from the maritime region's wealth by reducing tension or the possibility of Türkiye joining the East Mediterranean Gas Forum.

The East Mediterranean Gas Forum was established in 2019 by Egypt, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. Cairo hosts its headquarters.

According to the Cairo Declaration, the Forum's membership is open to any state wishing to join after completing the necessary procedures.



Türkiye Backs Sharaa’s Stability Efforts, Erdogan Says amid Syrian Violence

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the Malaysia-Türkiye Business Forum during his working visit to Malaysia, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, February 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the Malaysia-Türkiye Business Forum during his working visit to Malaysia, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, February 11, 2025. (Reuters)
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Türkiye Backs Sharaa’s Stability Efforts, Erdogan Says amid Syrian Violence

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the Malaysia-Türkiye Business Forum during his working visit to Malaysia, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, February 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the Malaysia-Türkiye Business Forum during his working visit to Malaysia, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, February 11, 2025. (Reuters)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Türkiye was advising Syrian authorities to help ease tensions and welcomed interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's commitment to punishing those who acted outside the law.

"Sharaa is pursuing an inclusive policy without falling into the trap of revanchism. Continuing this approach will thwart the games being played against Syria," Erdogan said after a cabinet meeting in Ankara.

Erdogan's political opponents have urged him to use his influence over Syrian leaders to curb the violence that erupted in the neighboring country in recent days.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) called for an international peacekeeping force to maintain security in western Syria, just south of Türkiye, if the government could not ensure civilian safety there.

Clashes between loyalists of deposed President Bashar al-Assad and the country's new rulers have killed scores of people in Assad's coastal heartland in recent days, according to a war monitoring group.

Türkiye, the strongest foreign backer of Sharaa, has condemned the violence and reiterated its support for the interim president.

The instability could damage Ankara's hopes of ending a decades-old conflict with Kurdish militants, some based in Syria, and possibly slow a flow of Syrians returning home from Türkiye in recent months after 13 years of war in Syria.

"Türkiye must take initiatives with the Damascus administration and make the necessary efforts to prevent such incidents from happening," Ali Mahir Basarir, a senior CHP lawmaker, said during a visit to the border province of Hatay.

"The escalation of clashes represents a major risk for Türkiye," he added.

Visiting Jordan at the weekend, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Türkiye was determined to assist the Syrian government in every way and support stabilization efforts.

Sharaa has vowed to catch those responsible for the killings, and Syria's defense ministry announced on Monday the completion of military operations against the remnants of Assad's forces.

Relative calm followed Assad's ousting in December. Syrian security sources said over the weekend more than 300 of their members had been killed in clashes with former army personnel owing allegiance to Assad in coordinated attacks and ambushes on their forces that began on Thursday.

Türkiye has backed anti-Assad Syrian forces for years and maintains bases in Syria's north. Its defense ministry said there was no surge in deployments late last week, after sources in Syria said more armored vehicles had crossed the border.

"We see that certain sectarian and ethnic provocations are being used by certain groups through proxy forces," Omer Celik, the spokesman for Erdogan's ruling AK Party, said on Sunday.