Egypt's multi-layered security calculus

As security balances shift in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean, countries are turning toward new avenues of cooperation. However, these pursuits are not progressing in the same manner. While collaborations in areas such as energy, maritime security, and transportation are coming to the fore in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan aims to establish a more structured and institutional security cooperation.

These two different approaches are significant in demonstrating how regional countries will act in a changing security environment. On one side, there are collaborations shaped around common interests; on the other, there is a structure based on a concept of collective defense and deterrence. The real question is how permanent and effective these collaborations will be and to what extent they can alter the balances in the region.

Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus Summit

The Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus Trilateral Cooperation Summit held on September 8 shows that the changing security environment in the Eastern Mediterranean is leading regional countries toward closer cooperation. The summit was attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA), Nikos Christodoulides.

At the summit, the strengthening of cooperation between the three countries, recent developments in the region, and efforts toward restoring peace and stability in the Middle East were discussed, and the impacts of regional tensions on global trade and energy security were evaluated.

The joint declaration issued also emphasized the development of cooperation to support peace and security in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

The Cyprus Issue

The Cyprus issue was also included in the joint declaration. Christodoulides expressed his satisfaction with Egypt's support regarding the Cyprus issue, and the joint declaration supported efforts toward the reunification of the island on the basis of UN resolutions.

This situation indicates that Egypt continues its stance in harmony with Greece and the GCA regarding Cyprus. At the same time, it can be evaluated as part of Egypt's policy to protect and develop regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Strategic Cooperation

The emphasis on the strategic importance of the Eastern Mediterranean in the joint declaration shows that the three countries are trying to improve existing cooperation during a period of rising geopolitical tensions.

The declaration's support for a two-state solution in Gaza, the call for ending conflicts in Lebanon and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, and messages of support for the territorial integrity of Libya also reveal the common stance of the three countries toward regional developments.

Energy has been one of the important topics of the trilateral cooperation. Projects aimed at natural gas and electricity grids strengthen the connection of the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe's energy security.

The fact that issues such as water security, climate change, economy, and trade were also addressed shows that the cooperation between the three countries is spreading to different areas.

Egypt's Regional Position

Egypt holds an important place in regional politics due to its location between the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Its position extending to the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean increases the country's importance in the fields of security, trade, and energy. Egypt's natural gas liquefaction plants and energy infrastructure also enhance this importance. Egypt is trying to strengthen its role as a regional energy hub by utilizing the infrastructure it possesses.

For this reason, Egypt's relations with the European Union are also significant. The joint declaration of the three countries emphasizes that strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Egypt and the EU will contribute to the stability and development of the region. This approach shows that Egypt attaches importance not only to its relations in the Eastern Mediterranean but also to the economic and strategic ties it has established with Europe.

At this point, some interpretations suggest that Egypt has "joined the Rome Alliance instead of the Mecca Alliance." However, this expression does not fully explain Egypt's situation, as the nature and scope of the two collaborations are different.

Egypt's development of its existing cooperation with Greece and the GCA does not mean it has joined an alliance that is a direct alternative to the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. Viewed from this perspective, while maintaining its existing relations with different regional actors, Egypt is simultaneously pursuing multilateral collaborations that offer it different options in the fields of security, energy, and economy. This shows that Egypt prefers to utilize different areas of cooperation simultaneously rather than remaining tied to a single structure in its regional policy.

Will Egypt join the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement?

The fact that Egypt has not yet joined the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement does not mean it remains outside of regional security cooperation. Due to its military capacity, population, and geographical location, Egypt continues to be one of the important actors in the Middle East.

As in the past, Egypt continues to try to act according to its own priorities in the face of regional developments today. The thought that taking sides, especially in regional crises, could narrow the country's room for maneuver in foreign policy and security is effective in its more cautious approach. For this reason, its failure to join the Mecca Agreement yet can be seen as a search to evaluate different cooperation options together rather than a stance against the agreement.

For Egypt, rather than making a choice between the Mecca Agreement and the cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, it seems more important to evaluate the opportunities offered by both structures in line with its own security and economic priorities.

In conclusion, it seems more accurate to evaluate Egypt's policy as an approach of maintaining its relations in different security and cooperation areas rather than choosing sides.