Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Εl-Sisi has arrived in Athens and will meet with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at 11:20 AM at the Maximos Mansion.

Εl-Sisi’s aircraft landed at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” at 10:15 in the morning. He was received by Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.

The intensification of Greek-Egyptian contacts highlights, above all, the strategic relationship along the Athens-Cairo axis, as well as the establishment of Greece and Egypt as two pillars of stability in a turbulent region amid broader upheavals.

Mr. Εl-Sisi will make his first stop at the Presidential Mansion, where he will meet with Kostas Tasoulas, shortly before the latter departs for his first trip abroad to Cyprus. Shortly after 11:15, the Egyptian President is expected to proceed from the Presidential Mansion to the nearby Maximos Mansion to hold talks with Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Following that, the proceedings of the High Cooperation Council will take place, and finally, the two leaders will make statements to the media. It is worth noting that the establishment of the Council was agreed upon by Mitsotakis and El-Sisi during their meeting in March 2024.

Strengthening Relations and Energy Cooperation

The work of the High Cooperation Council (HCC) and the subsequent statements are expected to signal an upgrade of already exceptionally close ties into a strategic partnership. At the same time, collaboration and coordination will be enhanced on the political level (via a mechanism for regular political consultations), in trade and investment relations, transport and infrastructure, connectivity projects, energy security (such as the Greece-Egypt electricity interconnection “GREGY”), climate change, defense and security, migration, education, and culture. These will be the main points of the joint statement by the two leaders.

A key aspect of the mutual understanding between Mitsotakis and El-Sisi is adherence to international law in addressing challenges and promoting regional stability, at a time when the geopolitical landscape in the region is being reshaped. The leaders are also expected to discuss the latest regional developments in Gaza, Syria, and Libya.

Strategic Approach

The exchange of views and coordination between Greece and Egypt at the highest and ministerial levels is now a well-established achievement. In January, a trilateral meeting of Greece-Cyprus-Egypt was held in Egypt. Additionally, Mr. Mitsotakis visited Cairo in March 2024, as part of a joint visit with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European leaders to sign the EU-Egypt Strategic and Partnership Agreement.

Greece was among the countries that spearheaded the formation of this agreement, emphasizing Egypt’s importance for Europe, particularly regarding Cairo’s role in curbing migratory flows toward European countries.

On the Greek side, participants in today’s meeting include Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou, the Prime Minister’s Diplomatic Office Director Milton Nikolaidis, the Director of the Prime Minister’s Office for International Strategic Planning and Communication Aristotelia Peloni, and the Greek Ambassador to Cairo, Nikos Papageorgiou.