The leaders of Egypt, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Naftali Bennett, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ)—met in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday to discuss wide-ranging issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war and Iran’s growing footprint in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is now completing his diplomatic visit to Egypt after meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.https://t.co/KjV0hFAtZw pic.twitter.com/tca6X49rJ8
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) March 22, 2022
A statement released by the Egyptian Presidency said that the leaders “discussed the repercussions of global developments, especially with regard to energy, market stability, and food security,” referring to the Ukrainian crisis. A prolonged conflict in Ukraine would severely affect Egypt’s agricultural sector.
The North African country is the world’s largest importer of wheat and almost 80% of this comes from Russia and Ukraine. Experts note that conflict-induced food supply shortages and a resulting price rise will send tens of thousands of Egyptians below the poverty line, with the country already reeling from severe poverty and food insecurity.
Historic meeting of leaders of #Israel #UAE and #Egypt. At this time of discord and conflict, this demonstration of a new Middle Eastern era of diplomacy and consultation is especially notable. https://t.co/WsjQllklb6
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) March 22, 2022
The statement added that the leaders “exchanged visions and views on the latest developments of several international and regional issues,” without specifically mentioning what was discussed. According to The Times of Israel (TOI), the regional issues mentioned in the statement pertained to discussions on Iran.
TOI reported that the trio discussed the prospect of setting up a regional air defence network to counter the threat posed by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen. The Houthis have continued to launch ballistic missiles and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia and its neighbours. In January, the rebels launched missiles at civilian centres in the UAE.
The idea of an air defence network was proposed last month by Bennett, who indicated that Israel might consider supplying the UAE with Israeli air defence systems, including the battle-tested Iron Dome system.
This image conveyed a powerful message to the White House. I believe it is past time for Biden to begin using the new Middle East dictionary, as he has thus far been unable to comprehend; We lead. We are stronger and more prosperous when we work together. #UAE, Egypt,and #Israel pic.twitter.com/gLbcyUPPeh
— Amjad Taha أمجد طه (@amjadt25) March 22, 2022
Furthermore, the leaders spoke about the ongoing talks in Vienna to restore the Iran nuclear deal and the United States (US) willingness to revive the deal. They also discussed the threat posed by Iran's paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and expressed concerns about recent US statements that the Biden administration may remove the IRGC from its list of terrorist organisations.
🇪🇬-🇮🇱-🇦🇪 #Egypt's Pres Sisi, #Israel's PM Bennett and #UAE's CP MBZ trilateral summit in Sharm el-Sheikh
— Prof. Michael Tanchum (@michaeltanchum) March 22, 2022
➡️#MiddleEast strategic architecture is evolving as Biden admin continues Obama's policy of letting a Balance of Power b/w #Iran and its adversaries emerge 'by itself' https://t.co/QY9DhTA3sw
President Sisi told MBZ that Egypt will “maximise” its security cooperation with the UAE “in order to develop the joint Arab action system, which would help protect Arab national security and enhance Arab capabilities to address the challenges facing the region and the growing threats to regional security.” Sisi also reiterated Cairo’s commitment to the security of the Gulf and strongly condemned any activities that sought to destabilise the region.
The meeting was welcomed by the US, which said that Washington will “continue to support the Abraham Accords and normalization agreements between Israel and countries in the Arab and Muslim worlds.” State Department spokesperson Ned Price stressed that the US will ensure that “Iran will never be able to acquire a nuclear weapon.”
Experts have noted that the trilateral summit is part of an emerging Arab-Israeli axis that seeks to counter-balance Iran’s rising influence in the region, especially at a time when the US security commitment in the region remains uncertain.