Cairo, Athens to Enhance Cooperation in Energy, Power Linkage

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi during summit talks held in Athens with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and the Greek Prime Minister in October 2021. (AFP)
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi during summit talks held in Athens with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and the Greek Prime Minister in October 2021. (AFP)
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Cairo, Athens to Enhance Cooperation in Energy, Power Linkage

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi during summit talks held in Athens with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and the Greek Prime Minister in October 2021. (AFP)
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi during summit talks held in Athens with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and the Greek Prime Minister in October 2021. (AFP)

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have affirmed their keenness to boost mutual cooperation, especially in energy and power linkage.

During a phone conversation, the two leaders discussed enhancing the strong bilateral ties on all levels, according to Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy.

Sisi and Mitsotakis also stressed the significance of intensified political consultations between the two countries on issues of mutual concern, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias stressed in October the depth of relations between the two countries and their coordination on all issues of common interest.

This came in a joint press conference in Cairo after a meeting between the two top diplomats.

The two parties described the bilateral ties as “strategic,” explaining that it was agreed to strengthen economic and trade relations, especially on renewable energy.

In December 2022, Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat witnessed in Cairo the signing of an agreement between Telecom Egypt and Grid Telecom, a subsidiary of the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) in Greece, on building a Mediterranean subsea system connecting Egypt and Greece.

The agreement came following an MoU signed in February 2022 during Talaat’s visit to Greece.

Talaat noted that the new cable is one of the shortest paths for data transmission to the Balkans in Eastern Europe and from there to other destinations in Western Europe, which contributes to strengthening Egypt’s strategic position as a global center for communications services and data traffic between the East and West.



Israel's Ambassador to US Says the 2 Countries are Discussing Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon

Lebanese army soldiers patrol in Bint Jbeil after Lebanese authorities permitted the return of citizens who fled the city during the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, 20 January 2025. EPA/STR
Lebanese army soldiers patrol in Bint Jbeil after Lebanese authorities permitted the return of citizens who fled the city during the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, 20 January 2025. EPA/STR
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Israel's Ambassador to US Says the 2 Countries are Discussing Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon

Lebanese army soldiers patrol in Bint Jbeil after Lebanese authorities permitted the return of citizens who fled the city during the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, 20 January 2025. EPA/STR
Lebanese army soldiers patrol in Bint Jbeil after Lebanese authorities permitted the return of citizens who fled the city during the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, 20 January 2025. EPA/STR

Israel’s ambassador to the United States says the two countries are in talks about the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as a deadline in the ceasefire with Hezbollah militants approaches. Israeli media have reported that Israel is seeking to postpone the completion of its pullout.
Michael Herzog said in an interview with Israeli Army Radio on Thursday that he believed Israel would “reach an understanding” with the Trump administration, without elaborating.
Under the US-brokered ceasefire that ended more than a year of fighting linked to the war in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces are supposed to complete their withdrawal from southern Lebanon by Sunday.
Israeli media have reported that Israel reached an understanding with the Biden administration on staying longer but that President Donald Trump is urging it to withdraw on time, reported The Associated Press.
There was no immediate comment from the United States.
Israeli officials have said Lebanese troops are not deploying fast enough in the areas Israeli troops are supposed to vacate. Under the ceasefire, the Lebanese army is to patrol a buffer zone in southern Lebanon alongside United Nations peacekeepers.
Hezbollah has threatened to resume its rocket and drone fire if Israel does not withdraw on time.