Egypt's growing rapprochement with Turkey, now extending to defence and military cooperation, could have implications for Cairo's strategic relationships with Cyprus and Greece, according to a report published by the London-based Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.
In a dispatch from Cairo, the newspaper said developments are being closely watched in Athens and Nicosia, given their long-running disputes with Turkey over Cyprus, maritime boundaries and energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Egyptian analysts interviewed by Asharq Al-Awsat acknowledged that maintaining a balance in Cairo's relations with Turkey, Cyprus and Greece presents a diplomatic challenge.
However, they argued that the improvement in Egyptian-Turkish relations is not directed against either Cyprus or Greece and could, under certain conditions, also serve their interests.
Trilateral partnership remains in place
The newspaper noted that Egypt, Cyprus and Greece have maintained an institutionalised trilateral strategic partnership since 2014.
It highlighted the ten trilateral summits held to date, the most recent of which took place in Cairo in January 2025.
More recently, the foreign ministers of the three countries held political consultations in the Egyptian capital. During those talks, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty described the trilateral partnership as "a model of cooperation and regional integration", underlining the special nature of Egypt's ties with both Nicosia and Athens.
Defence cooperation marks new phase
According to the report, a key milestone in the rapprochement between Egypt and Turkey was the signing of a letter of intent on defence cooperation during Egyptian Defence Minister Ashraf Salem Zaher's visit to Ankara.
Former Egyptian ambassador to Turkey Rasha Ahmed Hassan told the newspaper that Cairo continues to maintain that disputes involving Turkey, Greece and Cyprus should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations.
She also noted that, unlike Turkey, Egypt is a signatory to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a treaty that forms the basis of many international maritime boundary agreements.
Source: CNA
