Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received Cyprus' Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas in Cairo on Tuesday, stressing the importance of deepening the two countries' strategic partnership in security and military fields. The meeting was attended by Egypt's Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defence and Military Production Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher, Cyprus's Ambassador to Cairo Elena Rafti, and Major General Charis Georgiou, head of the Cypriot defence minister's military staff.
The talks come five months after El-Sisi and his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides upgraded bilateral ties in Nicosia. El-Sisi welcomed Palmas' visit and affirmed the need to expand cooperation across various fields, particularly security and military cooperation, in line with the shared aspirations of the two friendly peoples. He also asked Palmas to convey his greetings to Christodoulides.
Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said El-Sisi raised the importance of trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece, describing it as a pivotal mechanism for consolidating security, stability, and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean. This cooperation serves the three countries' interests and helps confront shared challenges. The trilateral summit between El-Sisi, Christodoulides, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was held in Alamein on 8 September.
Palmas conveyed Christodoulides' greetings to El-Sisi, stressing the importance Cyprus attaches to its close cooperation with Egypt. He praised the continuous coordination between Egyptian and Cypriot institutions across political, economic, and military fields. The Cypriot minister also voiced his appreciation for Egypt's role in reducing tension and promoting peace and stability in the region.
Egypt and Cyprus have expanded defence ties in recent years through recurring joint exercises, including the Ptolemy 2025 special forces drill held in Cyprus in June 2025. Cypriot forces also joined Egypt, Greece, France, and Italy in the Medusa-15 exercise, which ran off Crete from 10 to 18 September. Egyptian Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa attended the drill's main phase alongside his Greek and Cypriot counterparts.
The meeting between El-Sisi and Palmas follows a series of diplomatic efforts to strengthen regional cooperation. In a joint statement issued after the trilateral summit, the three leaders reaffirmed their support for Egypt's water security and urged compliance with international law in the Nile Basin. They also committed to electricity interconnection, migration cooperation, and continued coordination on Eastern Mediterranean security.
The strengthening of ties between Egypt and Cyprus is part of a broader effort to promote stability in the region. Egypt's role in addressing irregular migration was singled out by Palmas, who noted that Nicosia is keen to strengthen coordination between the two sides to address shared challenges, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea.
Key points
- Egypt and Cyprus are seeking to deepen their strategic partnership in security and military fields.
- The two countries have expanded defence ties through recurring joint exercises.
- Trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece is seen as pivotal for consolidating security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
