Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt are gearing up for a trilateral summit of the three countries’ heads of government, which is set to take place in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Wednesday.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi are all set to come together in Cairo alongside delegations from their three governments.

The summit is the first of its kind to be held between the three countries since they met in Athens in 2021, with Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis stressing that Wednesday’s meeting is being held “at a critical juncture for the region”.

He added that the meeting highlights “the importance and timeless value of the strategic partnership between the three countries” and constitutes a milestone in the deepening of their cooperation.

To this end, he said another trilateral summit is expected to take place next year in Cyprus – a move he says which “further underlines our country’s role as a European bridge for Egypt and the promotion of our common interests within the European Union”.

“Tomorrow’s trilateral summit is of particular importance due to the ongoing crises, which, among others, include those in Gaza and in Syria, as well as the broader impact those issues have on the Red Sea region,” he said.

He added that “in a fluid and volatile international environment, closer cooperation between Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt is essential to ensure peace, stability, and the prospect of economic and social progress in the Eastern Mediterranean”.

He also said that before the trilateral summit begins, Cyprus and Egypt will hold a bilateral summit with the stated aim of consolidating and institutionalising regular intergovernmental summits between the two countries.

At that bilateral summit, he said, the two countries’ leaderships will also discuss matters including the possibilities of joint investment projects in the fields of infrastructure, trade, technology, innovation, and tourism, as well as actions geared towards closer energy cooperation.

Additionally, he said, views will be exchanged on regional developments, “prioritising the promotion of stability and cooperation in the wider region”, with discussions set to focus on optimising alliances at the political, economic, and diplomatic level.

It is also expected that a number of memoranda of understanding will be signed on issues including education, information technology, women’s empowerment, water management and aquaculture development.