Greece and Egypt announced a strategic alliance on Wednesday to improve political coordination and regional stability in the midst of the Gaza conflict, Reuters reported.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met in Athens for the inaugural Supreme Cooperation Council, calling for an urgent cease-fire in Gaza and humanitarian aid access.  Mitsotakis supported an Arab-led Gaza rehabilitation plan following the ceasefire.

Migration was also a topic of discussion, with increasing arrivals from Egypt and Afghanistan putting a burden on Greek islands.  Despite putting an end to irregular migration in 2016, Egypt continues to be a major concern. 

As stated by the Reuters, EU recently pledged €7.4bn to Egypt to stem migrant flows and labeled it a “safe country” for returns, despite rights criticisms.