Egypt, Jordan, Iraq announce strengthening regional alliance

President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi called Sunday’s summit in Baghdad “a clear message amid extraordinary regional challenges.”

According to the details, Egyptian President, Jordan’s King and Iraqi Prime Minister discussed a range of issues at the tripartite summit, including security, economy, energy, investment co-operation and the Middle East crisis.

This is Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s first visit to Iraq by an Egyptian president in three decades. Relations between Egypt and Iraq were severed in 1990 after then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. However, relations between the two countries have improved in recent years, and officials from both countries have visited each other. The Jordanian King last visited Iraq in 2019, his first visit to Baghdad in ten years.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting of the three heads of state, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that various issues were discussed at the meeting. These included economic and political cooperation, large-scale industrial projects and trade in medicine and agro-pesticides.

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The three leaders also discussed regional issues such as the Syrian crisis, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the conflict in Yemen. Cooperation in the energy sector, including the possibility of a gas transmission network between Iraq and Egypt via Jordan, was also discussed. At present, Iraq relies heavily on Iran to meet its domestic demand for gas and electricity.

They also discussed the need to open borders to boost trade in the wake of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Ethiopia’s grand renaissance dam project was also discussed, however, Egypt fears that the dam’s construction could affect its water supply.

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Ayman Safadi added that the three countries also agreed to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis and the return of refugees. “The clear message from the three leaders was that we must meet these challenges together,” he said.

A statement issued after the meeting said the three countries also agreed on the importance of security and intelligence partnership to fight terrorism, drug trafficking and cybercrime.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Egyptian Presidency said, “The three leaders discussed issues of mutual interest, including the Palestinian conflict, counter-terrorism and economic cooperation.”

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“During the talks, these leaders emphasized the need to further coordinate consultations and contacts between the three countries on more important regional issues,” the statement added.

The first tripartite meeting between Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Abdullah II took place in Oman last year. The second meeting was scheduled for April, but was postponed after a tragic train crash in Egypt. Although no new agreement was reached at Sunday’s summit, the meeting is widely seen as an attempt to reduce Iran’s influence in the region.

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