The Israeli army announces the capture of 3 Hezbollah members in southern Lebanon

Within the framework of high-level Saudi-Egyptian coordination on regional issues, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Cairo on Tuesday, opening “a new era that pushes towards dealing to the ongoing crisis of the region and to achieve stability,” according to experts who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Regional issues, especially the situation in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, were on the agenda of the talks between the Saudi Crown Prince and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. “Both sides agreed on the seriousness of the regional situation and the need to stop the escalation. “The discussions also touched on the security of the Red Sea region, and the situation in Sudan, Libya and Syria.”

These are files that are not far from the concerns of the two countries within the framework of their historically extended relations, which have seen continuous developments since the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between the two countries in 1926.

Egyptian celebration

High-level cooperation and coordination marked by Egyptian media; They wanted to review the history of relations between Cairo and Riyadh to celebrate the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince.

The Egyptian satellite channel Cairo News presented a report entitled “Egypt and Saudi Arabia… a history of brotherhood, strong relations, and a common attitude towards many issues. “

The report highlighted the “shared vision of Egypt and Saudi Arabia towards many issues, especially recently with the unprecedented crises the region is witnessing, which could be ravaged without poor posture, visual acumen, continuous coordination, and persistence on principle, whatever. Cairo or Riyadh.”

This coordination was confirmed again by official departments. Last August, the Egyptian and Saudi Foreign Ministers stressed, in a telephone call, “increasing the speed of coordination and consultation related to regional issues and challenges, in a way that fulfills the interests of both population, and which works to ensure security. and the stability of the region.”

While Egypt’s former Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mohamed Al-Orabi, emphasized “the importance of Egyptian-Saudi coordination to resolve the crisis in the region,” he said that “the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince would have an impact to Cairo on “impact on the local, regional area. and international standards.”

Al-Orabi said, “Egypt and Saudi Arabia are the two largest countries in the region, and their coordination and consultation is permanent,” noting that “the visit of the Crown Prince, which was well prepared some time ago, aiming to strengthen coordination between. both countries due to the recent impacts in the region.” He said: “The visit will open a new era to address the ongoing crisis in the region.”

Consultation and coordination

Coordination and consultation between Cairo and Riyadh extends to several issues, and the active role of both countries has emerged in the past year, at the same time as the “Gaza War” and its regional consequences. his Saudi Arabia and Egypt were involved in the crisis since its inception.

For his part, the Saudi researcher in public diplomacy, Imad Al-Mudaifer, said that “the visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman has a great trilateral significance,” explaining that it “comes at critical time due to the bleeding and growing events. , and it also brings Riyadh and Cairo together with their weight.” Leadership so that together they represent the fortified fortress of the Arabs. Due to the impact of the Corona crisis, the war in Ukraine, and efforts to undermine the security of the Red Sea.”

He said: “A visit full of optimistic spirit, especially since Saudi Arabia and Egypt have a history of brotherhood and strong, deep and historic bilateral strategic relations in various fields, as well as the balance of a closeness that arises from its importance. of the two countries and their strong presence in the region, and the connection between the affairs of the region and the region,” noting that “The leaders of the two countries agree in views and position, and cooperate in emergency with the aim of preserving the security of the Arabs and protecting the region, its people and its interests.”

Continuous movement

Riyadh and Cairo participated in the ministerial committee, assigned by the extraordinary Arab-Islamic conference to put together an international movement to stop the war against Gaza, and foreign ministers went the two countries on a tour of the capitals of the world within the framework of the committee. with bilateral gestures that have never stopped, whether through telephone calls or visits and meetings with all international parties. Egypt also made efforts to mediate “peace in Gaza” in cooperation with Qatar and the United States, but the efforts have not been crowned with success so far.

In this context, the professor of political science at Al-Quds University, the Palestinian politician, Dr. Ayman Al-Raqab, pointed out that the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince to Cairo shows “high coordination level” between the two countries on several regional issues, and he said that “Saudi Arabia and Egypt are two major countries in the region, and from here the importance of coordination between them to solve the crisis in the region and of the region,” pointing out “the efforts of Riyadh and Cairo during the past period at various levels, from the Riyadh summit until the announcement of the formation of an international coalition to put the two-state solution the action.”

He said, “The current situation requires a great effort and coordination between Saudi Arabia and Egypt,” expecting that this coordination will be the result of “a major Arab movement due to the obstruction of the political horizon.” “

During the activities of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held last month in New York, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, announced on behalf of the Arab and Islamic countries and partners European, the publication of the “International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution,” indicating that the first meeting of the alliance will be held in Riyadh.

A view of both countries

Coordination between the two sides extends to the Sudan crisis. Saudi Arabia and Egypt made efforts to resolve the crisis, after the war that started in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces Saudi Arabia hosted the Jeddah negotiations in May 2023, and Egypt also held several meetings regarding the Sudan crisis. , the last of which was the “Political and Civil Forces of Sudan” conference last July.

The vision of the two countries in many situations and events was characterized by a “shared concern for the interests of the region and the preservation of​​​​ Arab national security by pursuing consultation and coordination regarding the crisis in the region to protect the affairs and interests of the region. country,” according to Egypt’s State Information Service website, which says “the situation in the region has deteriorated.” “It places a great responsibility on the two main countries to maintain the security and stability of the region.”