A trilateral summit featuring Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and Jordanian King Abdullah II kicked off on Sunday in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egyptian presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady said in a brief statement.
According to a report, The leaders of Egypt, Bahrain, and Jordan emphasised in a summit held in Sharm El-Sheikh on Sunday the importance of strengthening ties between the three nations to “the highest levels,” especially amid the international and regional challenges.
The trilateral summit brought together Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II in the Egyptian Red Sea city.
The talks touched upon the tracks of cooperation between Egypt, Bahrain, and Jordan, in addition to ways of achieving common goals and interests, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement following the meeting.
President El-Sisi said Egypt aspires to further cooperation with Bahrain and Jordan to achieve the common interests of the peoples of the three nations as well as boost joint Arab action, particularly amid great challenges of multiple regional and international developments.
The Bahraini and Jordanian kings praised “the inextricable” ties binding the three countries, stressing their keenness to elevate cooperation with Egypt to the level of strategic partnership.
Furthermore, the kings added that they seek maximising benefits of opportunities and potentials of cooperation relations with Egypt, Rady’s statement added.
King Hamad and King Abdullah also said that relations between the three countries “represent a cornerstone for maintaining regional security and stability as well as restoring balance to the region, in light of the pivotal importance of Egypt, Bahrain, and Jordan regionally and internationally.”
The talks also touched upon the mutual coordination regarding issues of common concerns, in addition to the latest developments on regional and international fronts and challenges facing the region.
GCC+3 summit
Meanwhile, the leaders welcomed the upcoming GCC+3 summit – scheduled for 16 July in the Saudi city of Jeddah – among leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council in addition to Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and the United States.
The summit is expected to tackle regional issues of concern and mechanisms of enhancing joint work to achieve stability in the region.
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Issues expected to be raised during the summit include enhancing regional economic and security cooperation, deterring Iranian threats in the region, promoting human rights, discussing global energy, and ensuring food security.
US President Joe Biden is scheduled to attend the summit on what will be his first Middle East tour as president from July 13-16.
The White House announced that Biden is also scheduled to meet with regional counterparts “to advance US security, economic, and diplomatic interests.”
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to arrive in Egypt on Monday on his first leg of a three-nation regional tour, two diplomatic sources told Reuters.
The Crown Prince will meet Egyptian President El-Sisi to discuss issues that include the regional impact of the war in Ukraine, in addition to preparations for US President Joe Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia next month, according to the sources.
