President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi held a tripartite summit with King of Jordan Abdullah II and Prime Minister of Iraq Adel Abdel-Mahdi on Sunday during which they discussed ways to enhance cooperation, coordination and integration between the three countries. The summit ended with a joint statement being issued which stressed the importance of cooperating to take advantage of the potentials offered by the three countries' geographical locations and shared strategic and economic interests. The three leaders reviewed the latest developments in the region and expressed their commitment to strategic cooperation with other Arab countries to restore stability to the region and resolve ongoing crises in Sudan, Algeria, Syria and Palestine. They also agreed to further consultations, with the goal of finding a unified position, before the Arab summit scheduled to convene in Tunisia at the end of this month. They expressed support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including a state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international resolutions. Combating all forms of terrorism — including confronting all those who support terrorism through funding, arms and the provision of safe havens and media platforms for terrorists — was also discussed. Iraq was praised for victory over the Islamic State (IS) and the sacrifices made by the Iraqi people were commended. Political analyst Hassan Nafaa says Cairo is particularly concerned with procuring “a list of IS members who fled Iraq to Sinai as well as further information regarding them so they can be pursued and eliminated”. He also believes Egypt is interested in importing oil from Iraq to cover its domestic needs. According to Nafaa, joint coordination between Egypt, Iraq and Jordan is being instigated to end the presence of IS in Sinai. The summit expressed full support for Iraqi efforts to complete reconstruction, return displaced Iraqis and ensure they receive their rights in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. The three leaders emphasised the importance of strong and coordinated action to strengthen institutions across the Arab region that safeguard against fragmentation, terrorism, sectarian division and outside interference in Arab affairs. Ways of enhancing economic integration and cooperation between the three countries were discussed, including the development of joint industrial zones, cooperation in energy, infrastructure, reconstruction and development sectors, and mechanisms to increase trade exchange and promote joint investment. The three leaders have set up a working group to follow through on the summit's recommendations and agreed to meet regularly to enhance coordination on projects that will contribute to the welfare of their people, regional stability and greater prosperity.
