Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to discuss the challenges facing the region amid the current clashes with Iran.
According to Asharq al-Awsat, they discussed “the repercussions of the military escalation in the Middle East and its impact on regional and global security and stability.”
The report goes on to note that “they condemned the repeated Iranian hostile attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council countries and their vital and civil installations, which are a dangerous threat to regional security and stability.”
Sisi’s visit to Saudi Arabia is significant. Egypt is a historic leader of the Arab world. It is one of the region’s most populous countries, with a large economy and a long cultural heritage. This heritage has, at times, played a key role in both Arab nationalism and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood.
As such, Cairo is a key bellwether of the region. Today, Egypt is outside the circle of countries being attacked by Iran and has close ties with the Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia. Like Riyadh, it had engaged in outreach to Iran in the last several years. Iran also wanted better ties with Egypt.
Now, Egypt could play a role in regional diplomacy. Indeed, it appears to be doing so along with Turkey, and the visit by its president is a symbol of this strategy.
Egypt reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia
Egypt and Turkey are both close partners of the US and the West.
Sisi “reiterated his condemnation of Iran’s ‘heinous’ attacks against Saudi Arabia and the region, saying Egypt stands by the Kingdom against any threat to its sovereignty and security,” Asharq al-Awsat said.
“The meeting was attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Chief of Intelligence Hassan Rashad, and other officials.”
The state Saudi Press Agency (SPA) noted that “during the meeting, both parties emphasized that repeated Iranian attacks on GCC states and the targeting of vital civilian infrastructure constitute a ‘dangerous escalation’ that threatens regional stability.” It also said that “the Saudi delegation included State Minister Issam bin Saad bin Saeed, Royal Court Advisor Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, General Intelligence Chief Khalid Al-Humaidan, and the Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Saleh Al-Hussaini.”
Sisi has been on a regional tour. He was also in Bahrain, where he held talks with the country’s king, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
“The two heads of state addressed ongoing Iranian aggressions, describing them as violations of national sovereignty and international law that endanger global peace and security. Sisi was received upon arrival by King Hamad and was later seen off by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa following the conclusion of the talks.”
Sisi was also in the UAE and Qatar. “The tour is intended to underscore Egypt’s support for GCC states in the face of current challenges and to signal Cairo’s rejection of 'unjustified attacks' against the security of neighboring countries,” SPA said.
Local state media WAM said that Sisi’s meeting in the UAE on March 19 with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan “also addressed developments in the Middle East amid ongoing military escalation and their serious implications for regional and international security and stability.
“His Excellency al-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s condemnation of the blatant Iranian attacks targeting the UAE and a number of other countries in the region, noting that they constitute a violation of state sovereignty and international law. In this regard, His Excellency al-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s solidarity with the UAE in the measures it is taking to uphold its security, territorial integrity, and the safety of its people.”
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Daily Sabah wrote on March 22 that Turkey’s “Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan wrapped up a Gulf tour over the weekend and told reporters that the international community had more confidence in his country as Ankara pursued a principled stand in the US-Israel-Iran War.”
“We see the confidence in Turkey is rising (after the war began). We never adopted an ambivalent stance on the matter. Everyone is aware that we told each side what mistakes they made. We strongly and clearly voice our opinion about how it was wrong, what was done to Iran, and to the Gulf countries,” Fidan told journalists on Saturday, Daily Sabah noted.
“Fidan also said that the Gulf countries said during a meeting in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, that they may have to take action if the current situation persists, stressing the increased risk level. The minister embarked on a regional tour encompassing Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this week.”