Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias called Egypt a "strategic and indispensable" ally for Greece and Cyprus on Tuesday,...

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias called Egypt a "strategic and indispensable" ally for Greece and Cyprus on Tuesday, after a trilateral defense meeting with his Egyptian and Cypriot counterparts in Cairo. Dendias met with Egyptian Lt General Ashraf Salem Zaher and Cypriot Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas, describing the talks as "another step in the deepening of Greek-Egyptian-Cypriot relations." The meeting came two weeks after a trilateral summit at El Alamein. The minister was also received by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi earlier in the day, a sign of the diplomatic weight Cairo is placing on the partnership. Dendias pointedly said Greece does not make its good relations with Egypt "dependent on relations with any other state," a message widely understood as directed at Ankara. He added that the ties between the three countries are built on "mutual honesty" and respect for international law and the law of the sea. He also referenced the 2020 Greece-Egypt exclusive economic zone agreement, which he personally signed as foreign minister, framing it as a foundation for the current defense cooperation. The trilateral axis between Athens, Nicosia, and Cairo has been steadily strengthening over recent years as all three countries share common concerns over Turkish activity in the Eastern Mediterranean. Egypt's military weight, combined with its shared maritime boundaries with Greece, makes it one of the most consequential partners Athens can cultivate in the region. #Greece #Egypt #EasternMediterranean