Egypt in March 2026: the most important developments in politics
In March 2026, Egypt's politics centered on the war involving Iran and Egypt's support for the Gulf states. Egyptian officials repeatedly condemned Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, and Egypt proposed a joint Arab security force. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi visited the United Arab Emirates and Qatar on March 19, then Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on March 21 and 22, saying Egypt's national security is inseparable from that of the Gulf states. In Saudi Arabia he and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman jointly warned that Iranian attacks threaten regional stability.
Egypt also presented itself as a mediator. From March 23, reports described back-channel diplomacy between the United States and Iran involving Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey, and the foreign ministers of the three countries met in Islamabad on March 29. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty warned that further escalation risks 'total chaos' in the Middle East. On March 30 Sisi appealed to President Donald Trump, saying 'Only you can stop the war'. The European Union expressed confidence in Egypt's role.
Egypt continued to raise Palestinian and Lebanese issues. It sent aid convoys to Gaza, including its 152nd on March 9, and discussed a stability force for the territory with the Palestinian vice president. Israel said it would reopen the Rafah crossing, first for pedestrians only. Egypt condemned Israel's ground incursion into southern Lebanon, and Abdelatty visited Beirut on March 26 to deliver aid. Egypt also condemned Israeli strikes on Syria and the Knesset's preliminary approval of a law on executing Palestinian prisoners convicted of terrorism.
At home, the government warned that hoarders of essential goods could face military trials, ordered early shop closures to reduce energy use, and approved the 2026/27 state budget. Nabil Fahmy, a former Egyptian foreign minister, was named Secretary-General of the Arab League by consensus, succeeding Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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