The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Cyprus, Vasilis Palmas, the Minister of Defense and Military Production and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Arab Republic of Egypt, General Ashraf Salem Zaher, and the Minister of National Defense of Greece, Nikos Dendias, signed on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, a Joint Statement.

The text of the Joint Statement follows:

ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ

08.10.2026 13:12

Haris Papatheocharous: A photo with his wife from 2015

08.10.2026 12:07

Interest from Israel in acquiring the CSE: What is the goal and the estimated acquisition value of the stock exchange?

Joint Statement of the Sixth Meeting of the Defense Ministers of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Cyprus, and the Hellenic Republic

1. Lt. Gen. Ashraf Salem Zaher, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of Defense and Military Production of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Mr. Vasilios Palmas, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Cyprus, and Mr. Nikolaos Dendias, Minister of National Defense of the Hellenic Republic, met in Cairo on September 22, 2026, within the framework of the trilateral dialogue mechanism among the defense ministers of the three countries, aimed at developing joint military cooperation.
2. The ministers reviewed developments in the regional security environment, threats arising from armed conflicts, and their respective assessments and perspectives on these matters. They emphasized continuing efforts to develop military coordination and cooperation among the armed forces of the three countries and to work jointly to enhance security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region to counter threats, thereby supporting regional development efforts.
3. They agreed on the importance of strengthening joint protection frameworks for supply lines, gas fields, and offshore energy infrastructure in the Eastern Mediterranean against various threats, particularly in light of recent circumstances in the region.
4. The three parties affirmed that this cooperation mechanism serves as a pillar for regional stability based on openness, a commitment to good neighborliness, and the safeguarding of regional security within the framework of adherence to the United Nations Charter, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), other relevant agreements, the rules of international law, and the principles of respecting state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs, free from international or regional competition and polarization.
5. The defense ministers of the three countries expressed the need to intensify efforts and coordinate positions to address cross-border security challenges and threats, foremost among which are counterterrorism, combating all forms of smuggling, irregular migration, human trafficking, and organized crime, as well as ensuring the safety of maritime navigation—which imposes further responsibilities for coordination and cooperation to address these challenges.
6. The Ministers commended the results achieved by the forces participating in the joint military exercises, foremost among which is Exercise “Medusa,” which contributes to enhancing operational coordination and combat readiness to deter all forms of shared threats.
7. They also emphasized the importance and collective responsibility of the international community to cooperate in de-escalating current tensions in the region, the necessity of an immediate cessation of armed conflicts, and resolving crises through political means—avoiding the expansion of conflict and confrontations that extend geographically and over time, which harm the entire world. They reaffirmed the commitment of the three countries to maintaining constructive dialogue with all concerned parties to promote regional security and stability.
8. In this context, it was agreed to:

1. Strengthen military and defense cooperation frameworks to support the collective capacity for a rapid and unified response to any future developments regarding threats of all kinds against the three countries.

1. Intensify communication, consultation, and the exchange of information and assessments, as well as coordinate joint capabilities in a manner commensurate with the gravity of current and future military and security threats and challenges at the regional level.

1. Hold the next meeting of the dialogue mechanism among the defense ministers of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Cyprus, and the Hellenic Republic in Greece in 2027.