Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi participated on Friday in a high-level consultative meeting in Nicosia, bringing together Arab leaders and senior European officials to address mounting tensions in the Middle East and reinforce joint efforts toward regional stability.
The meeting convened key European figures, including Antonio Costa, Ursula von der Leyen, and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, alongside leaders from major EU member states. Discussions centered on the rapidly evolving security landscape in the region, with participants emphasizing the urgency of de-escalation and coordinated diplomatic action.
According to presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy, the talks focused on regional crises and pathways to restore both regional and international peace. Opening remarks stressed the importance of sustained dialogue between Arab countries and the European Union to safeguard stability across the Mediterranean.
In a comprehensive address, President El-Sisi underscored the interconnected nature of security between Europe and the Middle East, warning that ongoing conflicts pose far-reaching consequences for global economic stability, energy markets, and international shipping routes. He highlighted Egypt’s continued diplomatic efforts to contain tensions, particularly in light of escalating challenges linked to Iran and broader regional instability.
El-Sisi reaffirmed Cairo’s firm stance that political solutions remain the only viable path toward sustainable peace, calling for adherence to international law, including the protection of maritime navigation and the establishment of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction.
The Egyptian president also reiterated that the Palestinian issue remains at the core of regional instability, emphasizing the necessity of advancing a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. He called on European partners to maintain their support for the Palestinian cause and resist any attempts to sideline it amid shifting geopolitical priorities.
Addressing other regional files, El-Sisi stressed the importance of preserving stability in Lebanon, supporting Sudan’s sovereignty and institutions, and enhancing international cooperation to prevent renewed escalation across conflict zones.
On Euro-Mediterranean relations, El-Sisi pointed to the elevation of ties between Egypt and the European Union to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024, followed by the first bilateral summit in October 2025. He highlighted cooperation in human development, economic integration, sustainability, and migration management as key pillars of this partnership.
He also noted Egypt’s role in curbing irregular migration while hosting nearly 10 million displaced individuals, calling for a more balanced and supportive framework from European partners to address root causes through development and legal mobility pathways.
On the sidelines of the summit, El-Sisi held separate meetings with several European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, as well as the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The summit highlighted a shared recognition among Arab and European leaders of the need for intensified cooperation, dialogue, and burden-sharing to navigate an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment and promote long-term stability.
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