Transport Costs: A Daily Burden Weighing on Khartoum Residents

Egypt is carefully balancing its deepening relationship with Turkey against its established strategic partnership with Greece and Cyprus. This delicate geopolitical maneuver comes as Cairo and Ankara expand cooperation into defense and military coordination, prompting questions about the future of the trilateral alliance formed in 2014 among Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus.

“

the special nature of the relations linking Cairo with Athens and Nicosia, which contributed to a convergence of views on establishing the trilateral summit mechanism.

The existing partnership between Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus was solidified in 2014, a period when relations between Cairo and Ankara were severely strained following the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood. At the time, Egypt's pivot towards partnerships with Cyprus and Greece was seen as a strategic move to counterbalance Turkey. The trilateral mechanism has since held annual summit-level meetings, with the most recent foreign ministerial consultations held in Cairo earlier this year.

“

a model for cooperation and regional integration.

However, the growing Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement introduces a new dynamic. While Turkey's relations with Athens and Nicosia remain complicated by disputes over maritime boundaries and energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, Egypt emphasizes that its engagement with Ankara is not directed against Greece or Cyprus. Egyptian experts suggest that Cairo could potentially play a mediating role, leveraging its determination to maintain balanced relations with all three countries.

“

Egypt stressed on all occasions and in its meetings with Türkiye, Greece and Cyprus that there was no way to resolve their disputes except through dialogue and negotiation.

This development is being closely watched, particularly in Greece. Greek media have noted the increasing Egyptian-Turkish ties with caution, acknowledging that while they do not directly threaten Greek interests currently, they contribute to broader regional geopolitical shifts. Egypt maintains that dialogue and negotiation are the only ways to resolve disputes, underscoring its commitment to maintaining equilibrium in its complex regional relationships.

“

Egypt seeks to maintain a balance in its relations with the three countries.