Nicosia: Energy, security, and regional developments took center stage at an informal trilateral meeting in El Alamein involving Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt. The leaders of the three nations, President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, reaffirmed the strategic importance of their cooperation for stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides highlighted the significance of the recent Final Investment Decision on Cyprus' Kronos gas field, marking Cyprus' transition into an era of natural gas exports to Europe through Egypt's infrastructure. Egyptian President el-Sisi emphasized the importance of the Egypt-Greece electricity interconnection and the potential for transporting Cypriot natural gas to Egypt for re-export to European markets. Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis confirmed Greece's support for the GREGY electricity interconnection and the prospects of transporting Cypriot natural gas via Egypt to Europe.
The leaders also discussed ongoing regional issues in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and Libya, reiterating their support for a two-state solution and adherence to international law. President Christodoulides expressed gratitude for the invitation and emphasized the strategic depth of the trilateral cooperation, which is based on mutual trust and common goals. He noted the upcoming meetings of Defence and Foreign Ministers and expressed expectations for the next trilateral summit in Cyprus.
Further emphasizing the energy sector's role, President Christodoulides stated that the Eastern Mediterranean could become a reliable alternative energy corridor to Europe. He reiterated Cyprus' support for a two-state solution in Gaza and opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians. He also expressed support for Lebanon and Syria's territorial integrity and stressed the strategic priority of maritime navigation and energy infrastructure.
President el-Sisi described the cooperation as a model of regional cooperation based on mutual respect and international law. He highlighted the Egypt-Greece electricity interconnection as a significant milestone for regional energy integration and emphasized coordination in defense and security. He rejected the displacement of Palestinians and called for a Libyan-led political process and the preservation of Syria's unity.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis described the trilateral as a model for stability and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean. He reaffirmed Greece's support for the GREGY electricity interconnection and outlined plans for Cypriot gas exports. On regional issues, he expressed support for a two-state solution in Gaza and a unified Libya, while emphasizing freedom of navigation and respect for international law. Concluding, Mitsotakis highlighted the strong EU-Egypt relationship as an investment in regional stability and prosperity, describing the trilateral cooperation as a stable axis of prosperity and security.
