Egypt, UAE, Israel Discuss Repercussions of Ukrainian Crisis

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. (WAM)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. (WAM)
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Egypt, UAE, Israel Discuss Repercussions of Ukrainian Crisis

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. (WAM)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. (WAM)

In their first tripartite meeting, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Sharm El-Sheikh on Tuesday.

The talks addressed the repercussions of global developments, especially concerning energy, market stability, and food security.

Media and political sources said that the meeting also included a discussion of Iranian influence.

Sheikh Mohammed and Bennett arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh on Monday, and each held a bilateral meeting with Sisi, according to Emirati and Israeli media, followed by the tripartite meeting.

Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said the tripartite meeting tackled the repercussions of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, especially its impact on energy and food security.

The official Emirates News Agency (WAM) said the meeting discussed ways of "enhancing relations between the three countries, and the importance of cooperation and coordination to drive development and enhance stability in the region and bolstering global energy security and market stability."

The meeting came about a month after Russia invaded Ukraine, which caused a significant hike in oil prices amid security concerns in several countries.

Egypt is facing significant challenges in energy and food security after the war in Ukraine put pressure on emerging market economies, which prompted Cairo to devalue the currency by 14 percent. Moscow and Kyiv are Egypt's leading two wheat suppliers.

The war also led to a decline in Egypt's tourism revenues from Russia and Ukraine to the Red Sea resorts.

The tripartite meeting also expressed the political desire to address security issues, namely the escalation by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in the region and the related negative repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and post-crisis arrangements.

They addressed the outcomes of the Iranian nuclear agreement talks and their impact on various political and security matters.

International relations and regional security expert Iman Zahran told Asharq Al-Awsat several indicators favor establishing tripartite cooperation and economic coalitions, most notably concerning the Egyptian-Israeli partnership in energy and the commercial partnership between the three countries.

In Tel Aviv, the tripartite meeting was announced a day in advance, but the government did not comment.

Bennett's office issued an official statement about the visit, noting that Sisi accompanied him to the airport.

The statement read that the PM met with Sisi and Sheikh Mohammed, noting that "against the backdrop of the recent developments in the world and the region, the leaders discussed the ties between the three countries and ways to strengthen them on all levels."

The visit is Bennett's second to Egypt. His first was in September last year.

Political sources in Tel Aviv stressed the importance of Bennett spending his night in Egypt for the first time in many years.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the tripartite meeting is part of Israeli orchestrated attempts to impose a blockade on Iran, which comprises all regional powers, including Turkey, backed by the US.



Saudi Foreign Minister Meets US Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
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Saudi Foreign Minister Meets US Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met in New York on Tuesday with US Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack, the Saudi Press Agency said.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the High-level Week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The two officials discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and efforts to contain tensions and promote security and peace in the region.


Saudi Arabia Highlights Humanitarian Situation, Seafarers’ Rights in Strait of Hormuz

Over 20,000 seafarers are stranded on approximately 2,000 ships in the Gulf due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz (WANA - Reuters)
Over 20,000 seafarers are stranded on approximately 2,000 ships in the Gulf due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz (WANA - Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Highlights Humanitarian Situation, Seafarers’ Rights in Strait of Hormuz

Over 20,000 seafarers are stranded on approximately 2,000 ships in the Gulf due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz (WANA - Reuters)
Over 20,000 seafarers are stranded on approximately 2,000 ships in the Gulf due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz (WANA - Reuters)

Saudi Arabia has stressed the need to protect seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz amid severe humanitarian conditions and risks to their fundamental rights, the Saudi Press Agency said on Wednesday.

The statement was delivered by Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila, on behalf of a group of countries from various regions during the general debate on Item 4 at the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the ambassador expressed deep concern over the ongoing insecurity and difficult living conditions faced by seafarers. He noted that attacks on civilian vessels have resulted in casualties and injuries among crew members, while many seafarers continue to struggle to access food, drinking water, fuel, medicine, and medical care.

He referred to Human Rights Council Resolution 56/18, which recognizes seafarers as a category of workers requiring protection and affirms that they are not responsible for the circumstances in which they find themselves. He stressed the need to protect their lives, health, safety, and dignity in accordance with international law.

The joint statement welcomed efforts by relevant parties to protect seafarers, commending in particular humanitarian measures taken by some Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries through their port and maritime authorities. These measures include search-and-rescue operations, the provision of essential supplies and medical assistance, administrative flexibility and the facilitation of crew changes.

Concluding the statement on behalf of the group, Saudi Arabia called on states to protect seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that their safety is closely linked to secure, unimpeded maritime navigation in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

This comes amid ongoing international calls to protect commercial vessels and seafarers and ensure safe navigation in the strait.


Saudi Crown Prince, Russian President Discuss Regional Developments

15 September 2026, Egypt, Cairo: Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, meets with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (SPA)
15 September 2026, Egypt, Cairo: Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, meets with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince, Russian President Discuss Regional Developments

15 September 2026, Egypt, Cairo: Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, meets with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (SPA)
15 September 2026, Egypt, Cairo: Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, meets with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received on Tuesday a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he reviewed relations between the two countries and ways to develop them across various fields.

They discussed the latest developments in the region, efforts to achieve security and stability, and other regional and international issues of mutual interest.

They also addressed the negative repercussions of the escalation on maritime navigation security and the global economy.