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The deepening cooperation between Egypt and Turkey, extending into defense and military coordination, is prompting scrutiny regarding its potential effects on the strategic partnership Egypt has maintained with Greece and Cyprus since 2014. This evolving regional dynamic unfolds against a backdrop of persistent disputes between Turkey and its Aegean neighbors over maritime boundary demarcation and energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean.

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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.

Egyptian analysts recognize the intricate challenge of managing Cairo's multifaceted regional relationships. However, they emphasize that the recent rapprochement between Egypt and Turkey is not adversarial towards Cyprus or Greece. Instead, they suggest it could potentially serve the interests of all parties involved. These experts believe Egypt is well-positioned to mediate and foster closer ties, given its commitment to maintaining balanced relations with all three nations.

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

Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus established a trilateral strategic partnership in 2014, a period marked by strained Cairo-Ankara relations following the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood government. At the time, Egypt's pivot towards partnerships with Cyprus and Greece was seen by some as a strategic move to counterbalance Turkey. The trilateral mechanism has since held annual summit-level meetings, with the most recent political consultations among foreign ministers occurring earlier this year.

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the Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement was not directed against Cyprus or Greece and could also serve their interests.

The latest step in Egypt-Turkey relations was the signing of a letter of intent on defense cooperation during the Egyptian Defense Minister's visit to Ankara. This marked a significant development, as it was the first such visit since President Sisi, then defense minister, traveled to Ankara in 2013. While Greek media has noted the growing Egyptian-Turkish ties with caution, acknowledging they do not directly threaten Greek interests, concerns are rising amid broader geopolitical shifts. Egypt, however, continues to stress that dialogue and negotiation are the only paths to resolving disputes, aiming to preserve a delicate balance in its regional engagements.

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Egypt could play a role in bringing the sides closer together, given its determination to maintain balanced relations with all three countries.