Egypt, EU Agree on Advancing Coordination at All Levels

Ursula von der Leyen expressed to Egyptian President Sisi Brussels’ interest in continuing to advance cooperation with Cairo. (Getty Images)
Ursula von der Leyen expressed to Egyptian President Sisi Brussels’ interest in continuing to advance cooperation with Cairo. (Getty Images)
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Egypt, EU Agree on Advancing Coordination at All Levels

Ursula von der Leyen expressed to Egyptian President Sisi Brussels’ interest in continuing to advance cooperation with Cairo. (Getty Images)
Ursula von der Leyen expressed to Egyptian President Sisi Brussels’ interest in continuing to advance cooperation with Cairo. (Getty Images)

Egypt and the European Union agreed to advance friendly relations and maintain joint coordination in light of the existing multiple and strong ties between them.

On Monday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a phone call from President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen praised the president’s vision to achieve comprehensive development across Egypt, the unremitting efforts to combat terrorism, and Egypt's successful experience in combating illegal immigration, the spokesman for the Egyptian presidency said.

“The call discussed ways to promote bilateral cooperation,” he added, stressing that Sisi confirmed his interest in strengthening cooperation and developing mutual dialogue between the two sides in light of their common interests and challenges.

For her part, the European Commission president underlined the EU’s desire to further boost cooperation with Cairo at various levels in light of Egypt’s leverage in the region.

The call also touched on a number of issues and developments in the region.

Von der Leyen confirmed the European interest that the ongoing coordination with Sisi is ensured on many important international and regional issues, including Egypt's hosting of the COP 27 climate summit this year.

The two sides agreed on the need to continue consultation, exchange views and intensify cooperation to reach political settlements for the various crises facing the region and maintaining peace and security in the Middle East, Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.

“This is necessary for both restoring stability in the region and securing a better future for its people,” the spokesman added.



Iran’s Allies Constrained in Confronting Israel

Armed Houthi supporters carry images of deceased military and political figures from Iran-aligned groups during a protest in Sanaa against Israeli airstrikes on Iran (EPA)
Armed Houthi supporters carry images of deceased military and political figures from Iran-aligned groups during a protest in Sanaa against Israeli airstrikes on Iran (EPA)
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Iran’s Allies Constrained in Confronting Israel

Armed Houthi supporters carry images of deceased military and political figures from Iran-aligned groups during a protest in Sanaa against Israeli airstrikes on Iran (EPA)
Armed Houthi supporters carry images of deceased military and political figures from Iran-aligned groups during a protest in Sanaa against Israeli airstrikes on Iran (EPA)

As war rages between Tehran and Tel Aviv, Iran may soon need to call upon its network of regional allies - groups it has armed and funded for years. But now, the so-called “Axis of Resistance” looks strained, fragmented, and far from ready.

On June 19, 2025, General Mohammad Reza Naqdi of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard urged Iran’s regional allies to take action to relieve mounting pressure on Tehran. At that point, Iran was entering its second week of heavy Israeli bombardment. Strategically, an Israeli strike on the Iranian capital once seemed unthinkable, but the regional terrain has since shifted. Iran’s supply routes are now disrupted, and its key proxy groups have either been neutralized or weakened.

According to The Times of Israel, Israel launched this war after nearly two years of systematically targeting Iran’s allies in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen. The 2023 Hamas attack on Israel had triggered a chain of retaliation that left many of Iran’s partners damaged or demoralized. With the Assad regime collapsed in Syria, Hezbollah weakened in Lebanon, and Hamas reduced to guerrilla tactics in Gaza, few proxies appear ready for a new confrontation.

In Gaza, Hamas has been forced into small ambushes and urban warfare, its rocket arsenal depleted and many senior leaders killed. Iranian communication channels with the group have also eroded. Israel’s targeted assassination of Mohammad Saeed Izadi, a key Quds Force commander linked to Palestinian factions, further strained coordination. For now, Hamas can offer little more than rhetorical support.

In Iraq, US forces have fortified their embassy in Baghdad, while withdrawing from bases such as Ain al-Asad. Iraqi factions loyal to Iran are posturing, threatening US interests should America enter the war. But most Iraqi leaders remain reluctant to drag the country into open conflict, knowing the consequences could be disastrous. Iran, too, is cautious about sacrificing Iraq’s political and economic value.

Hezbollah, reeling from the death of its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in a 2024 Israeli strike, is in disarray. Its military capacity and leadership have been significantly degraded. Though the party retains some strategic capabilities, domestic and regional pressures have so far restrained it from opening a major front.

In Yemen, the Houthis have emerged as Iran’s last viable card. They now play a key role in smuggling weapons and expanding Iranian influence into Africa. Should the US directly join Israel’s war, Tehran may finally authorize the Houthis to use their stockpile of ballistic missiles, signaling a decisive and potentially catastrophic new phase of the conflict.