Egypt, Gulf close ranks in Manama summit as regional tensions rise

2026-03-23 - 10:30

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to Bahrain, together with his accompanying political and media delegation, reaffirmed the strength of Egypt-Gulf ties and a shared outlook on regional challenges, particularly as tensions continue to escalate across the region. Between the diplomatic position expressed by Egypt’s ambassador to Bahrain and analytical perspectives published by Bahrain’s Al Ayam newspaper, a cohesive Arab stance has emerged, grounded in shared destiny, rejection of attacks, and a push for regional security and stability. Egypt’s Ambassador to Bahrain Riham Khalil said on Sunday, March 22, 2026, according to Al Ayam, that President Sisi’s visit and his meeting with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa reflect the close fraternal ties between the two countries and the importance of continued consultation and coordination to achieve regional security and stability. She stressed that the visit carries a clear message of Egypt’s full solidarity with Bahrain and Gulf Cooperation Council states, along with its firm condemnation of attacks targeting the security of fellow Arab nations. Khalil said Gulf security is a direct extension of Egypt’s national security, given the shared history and common destiny, affirming Cairo’s readiness to provide all forms of support to help safeguard Gulf stability. She added that the talks addressed Egypt’s efforts to contain regional escalation, stressing the need to secure maritime navigation, ensure the free flow of trade, and protect energy security. The ambassador also highlighted United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, introduced on a Bahraini initiative, which condemned attacks on Gulf states, noting that Egyptian diplomacy played an active role in rallying international support for the measure. Al Ayam’s Sunday edition examined the dimensions of the Egyptian-Bahraini summit. Under the headline “Manama Summit Between President Sisi and the King of Bahrain: Dimensions and Implications,” with Hamid Mahmoud, director of the Oxford International Center for Strategic Studies, saying the summit carries significant weight in light of growing security and political threats in the region. He said the meeting comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions and what he described as Iranian aggression against Bahrain and Gulf states, as well as a broader regional confrontation involving the United States and Iran. Mahmoud said the summit reaffirmed the strength of ties between Cairo and Manama, which span more than eight decades, and reiterated President Sisi’s position that the security of Bahrain and Gulf states is integral to Egypt’s national security. He added that Egypt’s stance reflects its rejection of what he described as unjustified Iranian attacks on Gulf states, which he said contradict international law and principles of good neighborliness. Mahmoud also pointed to Gulf support for the Iranian people during past crises, both officially and on humanitarian grounds, as well as Gulf diplomatic efforts to discourage escalation between Washington and Tehran. He said President Sisi’s broader Gulf tour, which included the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, underscored a shared fate between Egypt and Gulf states, where threats to one are seen as threats to all, highlighting the need for deeper cooperation to confront common challenges. Separately, columnist Hind Karam wrote that the visit delivered clear and firm messages to the international community, reflecting alignment between Egyptian and Bahraini positions in rejecting attacks and supporting states’ sovereign right to defend their security and stability. She said the joint messages from the leadership meeting showed full convergence on condemning attacks targeting Gulf states, supporting diplomatic solutions, respecting international law, and ensuring freedom of navigation in key waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz.