Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s decision to send, for the first time, an Egyptian military contingent to Cyprus for the October 1 parade, according to an analysis by the Israeli newspaper “Ma’ariv.”
The article states that Egyptian soldiers are expected to march in Nicosia alongside units of the National Guard and ELDYK, noting that their presence is viewed as a move of political and strategic significance far greater than the ceremonial nature of the parade.
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The decision, it is noted, takes on particular significance due to the rapprochement between Cairo and Ankara and Turkey’s efforts to integrate Egypt into the new regional architecture shaped by the mutual defense agreementMecca mutual defense agreement. The agreement was signed on August 7 by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, with Ankara presenting Egypt as a potential future member.
“Ma’ariv,” however, emphasizes that Egypt’s move demonstrates that its rapprochement with Turkey does not come at the expense of the Egypt–Cyprus–Greece strategic axis.
In April, Cyprus and Egypt had agreed to strengthen relations between their armed forces, to facilitate exchanges between military academies, cooperation between defense industries, and the establishment of a joint committee, the newspaper reports, concluding by emphasizing that the symbolism is even stronger, as Egypt’s participation comes nearly 49 years after the bloody raid by Egyptian commandos on Larnaca Airport in 1978, which led to the severing of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In this regard, “Ma’ariv” concludes, and the mere presence of Egyptian soldiers in the parade marking the anniversary of Cypriot independence will be much more than a mere gesture of goodwill. It will tangibly reflect the new balance of power in the region, within which Egypt seeks to maintain its freedom of action vis-à-vis all sides, without abandoning the alliances it has already forged.
Source: KYPE
