Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed Greek Defense Minister Nikolos Dendias to Cairo on September 22, 2026. The meeting was attended by Egyptian General Ashraf Salem Zaher, Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces, and Lieutenant General Mohamed Adly Abdel Wahid Suleiman, Head of the Egyptian Armed Forces' Armament Department. The Greek delegation included Ambassador Nikolos Papagiorgiou and Lieutenant General Ioannis Korelis, Director of the General Directorate of Strategic and External Relations of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff.

According to the Egyptian Presidency, President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of strengthening strategic partnership between Egypt and Greece. He highlighted the need to further develop cooperation in various fields, particularly in military and defense areas, to serve the interests of both nations. The President also requested that his greetings be conveyed to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The meeting between President El-Sisi and Minister Dendias reflects the growing importance of Egypt-Greece relations. Both countries have been working to enhance their bilateral ties in recent years, with a focus on defense, trade, and tourism. The two nations have also been cooperating on regional security issues, including counter-terrorism and maritime security.

Egypt and Greece have a long-standing strategic partnership that was established in 1991. Since then, the two countries have been working to strengthen their cooperation in various fields. The partnership has been bolstered by regular high-level visits and joint military exercises. The two nations have also been working together on energy projects, including the development of natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The visit by Minister Dendias to Egypt is seen as a significant step in strengthening the military cooperation between the two nations. Greece has been seeking to enhance its military capabilities in recent years, and Egypt has been a key partner in this effort. The two countries have been cooperating on defense projects, including the development of advanced military equipment.

President El-Sisi and Minister Dendias also discussed regional security issues during their meeting. The two leaders emphasized the need for international cooperation to address common security challenges, including terrorism and piracy. They also discussed ways to enhance maritime security in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region that is critical to global trade and energy supplies.

The meeting between President El-Sisi and Minister Dendias concluded with a commitment to further enhance military cooperation between Egypt and Greece. The two nations will continue to work together on defense projects and joint military exercises. They will also explore new areas of cooperation, including cybersecurity and counter-terrorism.

Key points

  • Egypt and Greece are working to enhance their strategic partnership in various fields, including military and defense areas.
  • The two nations have been cooperating on regional security issues, including counter-terrorism and maritime security.
  • The visit by Minister Dendias to Egypt reflects the growing importance of Egypt-Greece relations.

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SaharaWire Newsroom
SaharaWire

Reporting for SaharaWire from the Nairobi bureau.