The agenda of the Greek Prime Minister’s meeting with Egyptian President Sisi

With energy as the first item on his agenda, Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrives in Cairo on Thursday, in order to have his first meeting after the elections with the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Along with the prime minister in Egypt will also be the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis and the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, who will also have meetings with their counterparts.

Coordination and messages

And as competent sources note, the decision to coordinate the three visits that had been decided to take place on different dates was originally to underline the strategic cooperation between Greece and Egypt, but also to have a comprehensive discussion of the issues that concern the two countries .

Energy

The Greece-Egypt electrical interconnection cable, the acceleration of the processes on it, but also the possibilities of expanding energy cooperation with a focus on green energy.

Libya

The issue of Libya will clearly be on the table of talks, in which Egypt has its own role and Athens is still looking for its own. Sisi has already proceeded to unilaterally declare Egypt’s western maritime borders, provoking the anger of the Tripoli government.

With this proclamation being a serious blow to the Turkish-Libyan memorandum on the delimitation of maritime zones. Greece and Egypt have also signed a partial demarcation, amid a summer of extreme Greek-Turkish tension giving Athens a strong card.

It should be noted that the Supreme Service Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also decided last week on the appointment of a Greek ambassador in Tripoli, which until now did not exist, showing a willingness of Athens to start talking with Libya.

Turkey

The Turkey chapter will also be on the table, with Ankara in the process of normalizing its relations with Cairo and Erdogan waiting for Sisi’s decision to visit Turkey. Since the July 27 that appeared as the date of Sisi’s visit to Turkey was not confirmed.

Motility

At a time when the Eastern Mediterranean is at the center of energy planning, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to show that he is discussing and solving his issues with his neighbors and in the region: Greece, Egypt but also Israel.

And against the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Greece is already developing into an energy hub, with agreements that are progressing rapidly, involving Israel and Egypt, while they are not leaving  the Republic of Cyprus out of the plans, having the blessings of the USA. Athens’ ambition, which is gradually being promoted, is to form the bridge between the Middle East and Europe and to be used as a crossroads in the development of new energy roads.

Redesigning energy paths

In this redesign of the energy roads, Turkey wants to get involved directly and secure its own share. While at the same time it is also reading the developments in the Middle East, specifying the role he wants to secure.

It is worth noting that for the US and NATO, Turkey is an important player in the region, which must remain under the umbrella of the West and possibly give incentives to Erdogan to maintain the westward path he has chosen since the earthquakes and after.

Postponements

The illness of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu resulted in the postponement last week of both the planned tripartite Greece – Cyprus – Israel and his visit to Turkey. The first visit by an Israeli prime minister in 15 years, in which Erdogan had invested in both symbolism and substance.

In view of Geneva

However, this will hardly change the course of developments. With the upcoming UN General Assembly in Geneva in September creating a fertile ground for an orgasm of diplomatic developments.