Egypt hosted the Israeli and UAE leaders for unprecedented three-way talks yesterday as the Ukraine war rocks energy and food markets and major powers inch toward a revived Iran nuclear deal.
The summit was held in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh between Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed.
It comes nearly a month after Russia invaded Ukraine in a move that sparked concerns about security and sent prices of oil, wheat and other key commodities soaring.
Egypt, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are allies of the United States but they have so far avoided taking positions against Russia over its war on Ukraine.
“Against the backdrop of the recent developments in the world and the region, the leaders discussed the ties between the three countries and ways to strengthen them on all levels,” said a statement from Bennett’s office.
It was the first summit of its kind, and signalled “a new doctrine” of regional diplomacy championed by the UAE, said Mustafa Kamel al-Sayyid, a professor of political science at Cairo University.
Bennett and Sheikh Mohammed had arrived in Egypt on Monday. At their meeting yesterday, the three leaders discussed “energy, market stability, and food security,” Egyptian presidency spokesman Bassam Radi said.
Israeli media said the leaders would also discuss reports that Iran and Western powers, including the United States, are close to a deal to revive the 2015 nuclear accord.
Bennett is vehemently opposed to the deal which is designed to prevent Iran from acquiring an atomic bomb — a goal the Islamic republic has always denied.
Bennett also travelled to Sharm el-Sheikh in September last year, in what was the first visit in over a decade by an Israeli head of government.
Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, after decades of enmity and conflict.
In 2020, the UAE became the third Arab country to forge diplomatic ties with Israel.
In contrast with Egypt, which has focused predominantly on strong military and strategic ties with Israel, the UAE has hit the ground running on robust economic relations.
Within the first year of establishing diplomatic ties, the two regional heavyweights had agreed a raft of deals ranging from tourism and aviation to cutting-edge technology.
The official Emirati news agency WAM said yesterday’s meeting “discussed ways of enhancing relations between the three countries”.
A handout picture released by the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs yesterday shows (L to R) Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett posing for a picture after a meeting in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. (AFP)
