Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed Greek Defense Minister Nikolos Dendias to Cairo on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The meeting was attended by Egyptian General Ashraf Salem Zaher, Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Minister of Defense and Military Production, and Lieutenant General Mohamed Adly Abdel Wahab Suleiman, Head of the Egyptian Armed Forces' Armament Department. The Greek delegation included Ambassador Nikolos Papagiorgiou and Lieutenant General Ioannis Koris, Director of the General Directorate of International Relations and Strategic Planning of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff.
According to the Egyptian Presidency's spokesperson, President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between Egypt and Greece, highlighting the need to further develop bilateral relations, particularly in the military and defense fields. He also requested that his greetings be conveyed to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The two sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation and coordination on issues of common concern, including combating terrorism and irregular migration.
President El-Sisi also stressed the significance of the trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus, describing it as a successful model for regional cooperation aimed at achieving peace, stability, and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean. He emphasized the need for continued cooperation among the three countries to address common challenges and promote development.
Greek Defense Minister Nikolos Dendias expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome he received in Egypt and conveyed Prime Minister Mitsotakis' greetings to President El-Sisi. He acknowledged the historical and enduring nature of Greek-Egyptian relations and highlighted his country's commitment to strengthening coordination with Egypt to address common challenges.
Minister Dendias also emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and coordination between Greece and Egypt on issues such as combating terrorism and irregular migration. He praised Egypt's role in reducing irregular migration and expressed his country's appreciation for Egypt's efforts in this regard.
The meeting between President El-Sisi and Minister Dendias reflects the strong bilateral relations between Egypt and Greece, which have been steadily growing in recent years. The two countries have been cooperating closely on regional security issues, including the fight against terrorism and the promotion of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The discussions between President El-Sisi and Minister Dendias are expected to further enhance Greek-Egyptian cooperation in the military and defense fields, as well as on regional issues. The two countries are likely to continue their close coordination on issues of common concern, contributing to regional stability and security.
Key points
- Egypt and Greece are strengthening their strategic partnership, with a focus on military and defense cooperation.
- The two countries are cooperating closely on regional security issues, including combating terrorism and irregular migration.
- The trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus is seen as a successful model for regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
