Greece and Egypt signed a “strategic partnership” agreement on Wednesday, aiming to enhance political coordination and strengthen stability in the Eastern Mediterranean amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
In a joint statement, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted the deep-rooted political, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations, emphasizing their shared commitment to peace and international law.
The agreement was made during the inaugural meeting of the Supreme Cooperation Council, established over a year ago to boost bilateral relations. Both leaders reiterated their stance on respecting international law to foster peace in Gaza, with Mitsotakis calling for an end to hostilities and the restoration of humanitarian aid.
Greece also expressed support for an Arab-backed reconstruction plan for Gaza, contingent upon the achievement of a ceasefire.
Migration concerns were another key issue in the talks, with Egypt’s economic challenges driving increasing numbers of migrants, particularly to Greek islands like Crete and Gavdos. The European Union’s 7.4 billion euro funding package, announced last year, aims to address migration from Egypt, a country with a population of 106 million.
In addition, the EU recently classified Egypt as a “safe country” for returning failed asylum seekers, despite ongoing human rights concerns.
