Egypt hosts trilateral summit with Greece and Cyprus amid regional tensions

On September 8, 2026, the leaders of Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt held a trilateral meeting in El Alamein to strengthen their regional cooperation. The summit, attended by President Nikos Christodoulides, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, focused on institutionalizing their existing partnership, including plans to establish a permanent secretariat in Cyprus. Furthermore, the three nations are considering a meeting of their defense ministers in Cairo in the coming weeks.

The meeting occurs amidst shifting regional dynamics characterized by Turkey's efforts to project influence through the 'Mecca Agreement'—a defense pact involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Although Turkey previously attempted to include Egypt in this security architecture, these efforts failed, reportedly due to Saudi opposition. Turkish media outlets have expressed concerns regarding the Cairo-Athens-Nicosia axis, questioning whether Egypt will remain aligned with Greece and Israel or drift toward a closer relationship with Ankara.

Moving forward, the trilateral partners seek to solidify their alliance as a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. While Turkish analysts remain divided on the long-term geopolitical orientation of Cairo, the ongoing diplomatic efforts by Greece and Cyprus aim to prevent Egypt from becoming fully integrated into Turkey's preferred security framework.