Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt hold sixth trilateral defence summit in Cairo

The sixth trilateral meeting of the defence ministers of Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt took place on September 22, 2026, in Cairo. Representing the three nations were Cyprus' Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas, Greece's Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, and Egypt's Minister of Defence and Military Production, Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher. The event focused on enhancing military cooperation, maritime security, and regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

During the summit, the ministers signed a joint declaration confirming their commitment to deepening defence ties through increased joint military exercises, cyber defence, and the sharing of technical expertise. A key outcome was the agreement to improve operational coordination to enable a rapid and unified response to potential security threats. The discussions also addressed the protection of free navigation and critical energy infrastructure, while reaffirming adherence to international law, the UN Charter, and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Prior to the trilateral session, ministers Palmas and Dendias held separate bilateral meetings with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. These discussions underscored the strategic partnership between Egypt and its Mediterranean partners. This meeting follows the recent conclusion of the 'Medusa 15-2026' multinational exercise held in Crete, which involved multiple regional and international partners.