Macron’s Visit to Egypt: A Triangular Summit and Strategic Messages

The Egyptian-French-Jordanian triangular summit concluded its activities at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Monday, April 7, focusing on recent regional developments, particularly the rapid changes in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Cairo on the evening of April 6 for a three-day official visit.

In addition to the triangular summit, which was the highlight of Macron’s visit to Cairo, the agenda included a series of high-level activities and meetings. Macron started his visit with a tour of the Hussein area and the Grand Egyptian Museum, symbolizing the deep cultural and civilizational ties between the two countries. He then held a bilateral meeting with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, discussing key political and regional issues.

On the following day, an expanded economic forum brought together a select group of French and Egyptian business leaders, where several strategic agreements were signed to enhance economic partnership between Paris and Cairo. Macron also visited the Adli Mansour Monorail Station, describing the project as a “shared pride,” highlighting cooperation in infrastructure and smart transportation.

To further strengthen the cultural and academic dimension of bilateral relations, Macron visited Cairo University, where he discussed ways to expand scientific and educational cooperation. The visit concluded in the city of Al-Arish, where the French president was briefed on the humanitarian situation related to the repercussions of the war in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and allowing humanitarian assistance.

This marks President Macron’s fourth visit to Egypt, reflecting the unique relationship between the two countries and confirming the robustness of the strategic partnership between Cairo and Paris. The visit gains additional significance as it coincides with the triangular summit at a crucial moment for the region, underscoring Egypt’s pivotal role in coordinating with regional and international partners to face escalating challenges.

Significance of the Triangular Summit Timing between Egypt, Jordan, and France:

The summit convened in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and French President Emmanuel Macron at a highly sensitive time regionally. This timing indicates that the meeting was not merely a protocol occasion but rather a swift reaction to a series of unfolding developments threatening a widespread regional explosion.

Among these key developments is the resumption of military operations in Gaza; after a period of fragile calm lasting weeks, Israel resumed its military activity in the Gaza Strip, particularly in southern areas like Rafah and Khan Younis, threatening a humanitarian crisis much greater than previously seen.

The summit occurs amid increasing international and security pressures on Egypt; prior to the summit, there were repeated international calls for the Rafah border crossing to be opened permanently to Palestinians fleeing war in Gaza, despite Cairo’s firm stance against forced displacement policies and rejection of any plans to empty the area of its inhabitants, including intense U.S. pressures from factions pushing for unacceptable scenarios from Egypt’s perspective.

In this context, France is attempting to play the role of a balanced European mediator, confronting the clear U.S. bias towards Israel. Meanwhile, Jordan is increasingly worried about the implications of the escalation in the West Bank and the potential unrest in Jerusalem. Therefore, the summit can be seen as a joint diplomatic effort aimed at containing the crisis, calming tensions, and perhaps paving the way for a new political initiative that revives the negotiation process or at least provides a framework for a ceasefire and stabilization.

All of this coincides with renewed tensions in southern Lebanon, the return of mutual shelling, and an increase in military statements between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as escalating border tensions between Lebanon and Syria. These factors raise serious concerns about the potential opening of a large northern front, highlighting the importance of Jordan’s inclusion in these discussions given its geographical position amid these tense hotspots, as Egypt seeks to prevent the expansion of the conflict while France plays a pivotal role coordinating with European and Lebanese parties, given its close ties with Beirut.

This also comes as the U.S. Department of Defense announced on Wednesday, April 2, its intention to strengthen its military presence in the Middle East while the U.S. military continues airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen and increases pressure on Iran.

The timing reflects an important international awareness, particularly from the French side, of the need to use political tools to confront the logic of power and the necessity of engaging key Arab states, primarily Egypt, in efforts to contain the crisis. Thus, the summit’s convening during this period signifies not just a rapid response to developments but a message that political solutions remain possible and that de-escalation requires genuine partnership between the international and regional communities.

Strategic Messages:

External Message Emphasizing the Central Role of Egypt: The summit showcased the importance of Egypt’s role in the region, as Cairo’s hosting of the summit and Macron’s visit to Al-Arish underscored international recognition of Egypt’s fundamental role in managing regional crises, especially concerning the Palestinian issue. The political and economic support from France reinforces global confidence in Egypt’s ability to lead efforts for de-escalation and prevent escalation, highlighting that any future political solution cannot occur without Cairo’s involvement.

Message to Israel: There was a clear indication from the summit that the notion of displacing Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank is entirely rejected. Macron’s visit to Al-Arish and his praise of Egypt’s position served as a political signal that the international community, particularly Europe, will not support plans for forced displacement.

Message to the United States: With the prevailing U.S. bias towards Israel, the summit confirmed the emergence of another rational axis in the region capable of playing an independent role in achieving balances, as Paris seeks to become a more moderate European alternative while Egypt and Jordan aim to assert themselves as essential partners.

Message Directed at Europe: Regional security begins in the Middle East; France seeks to assume a European stance ensuring that the stability of the southern Mediterranean directly affects the European continent (concerning migration, energy, and maritime security). This aligns with the view of both Egypt and Jordan that resolving the Palestinian issue is not just an Arab demand but also a guarantee of European security.

Outcomes of the Summit:

At the conclusion of the meeting, a joint Egyptian-Jordanian-French statement was issued outlining the main results of the summit attended by the three leaders. The statement included the following:

• Ceasefire in Gaza: The leaders called for an immediate return to a ceasefire to protect civilians and facilitate urgent humanitarian assistance to the sector.
• Rejection of Palestinian Displacement: They expressed their unequivocal rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians from their lands or annex new Palestinian territories, underscoring the importance of halting all unilateral actions that hinder the achievement of a two-state solution and exacerbate tensions. They also stressed the need to respect the historical status of holy sites in Jerusalem.

In a move reflecting France’s support for Egypt’s stance against displacement, President Macron visited the neighboring city of Al-Arish to meet with humanitarian and security workers, reiterating France’s opposition to any attempts to displace Palestinians.

• Support for Gaza Reconstruction: They emphasized the importance of assisting the reconstruction plan for Gaza approved by the Arab summit and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, focusing on governance and security under the supervision of the Palestinian National Authority supported by strong regional and international efforts.
• Organization of an International Peace Conference: The leaders renewed their commitment to unifying these efforts in a conference scheduled for June 2025, to be led by France and Saudi Arabia, aiming to establish a clear political framework for implementing the two-state solution. The leaders also expressed their support for a conference on Gaza reconstruction set to be held soon in Cairo.

In an indication of the international attention the triangular summit received, U.S. President Donald Trump made a phone call to the three leaders during the summit, following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. This direct interaction from Washington, at a critical time, reflected an American acknowledgment of the seriousness of the Arab-European stance rejecting any solutions that impose a fait accompli at the expense of Palestinian rights. It could also be seen as an implicit acknowledgment of the summit’s success in establishing a shared political position in the face of regional and international pressures, indicating that what transpired in Cairo was not merely diplomatic coordination, but an effective step that pushed major powers to reassess their calculations regarding upcoming settlement pathways.

In Conclusion:

The triangular summit between Egypt, Jordan, and France reflects a significant diplomatic turning point amid rising regional challenges, particularly with escalating conditions in Gaza and serious fears of the conflict transforming into a wide-scale regional war. The summit took place at a highly sensitive time, emphasizing the urgent need to break the political stalemate surrounding the Palestinian issue and the necessity of formulating a new approach based on political realism, regional, and international cooperation as the only way to avoid slipping into more bloody scenarios.

The summit also reinforced Egypt’s position as a pivotal regional player whose role cannot be overlooked in any settlement process, not only due to geopolitical factors but also rooted in its historical expertise and network of regional and international relations. The summit showcased a diplomatic scene that reflects the convergence of political rationality among parties seeking to reduce escalation and open windows for a political solution, at a moment when the need for wisdom and responsibility is greater than ever. Therefore, the aftermath of the summit may serve as a real test of this triangular alliance’s ability to translate declared positions into tangible initiatives that ensure the security and stability of the region.