On Monday morning, the city of Sharm El-Sheikh hosts the international conference titled “Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit,” jointly chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump. More than 20 countries are taking part, with the aim of finalizing an agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip and promote peace and stability in the Middle East. The measures include signing a ceasefire agreement, releasing hostages, and resuming humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Among the most prominent participants are UN Secretary-General António Guterres, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Tel Aviv and Hamas have both confirmed that they will not attend the summit.
El-Sisi extended an invitation to his American counterpart during a phone call on Thursday to attend the ceremony in Egypt marking the signing of the agreement. Trump welcomed the invitation, expressing his pleasure at visiting Egypt, a country he said he “holds in great esteem and appreciation,” according to a statement from the Egyptian Presidency.
In a related statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy wrote on his official Facebook page on Saturday that the summit aims to end the war in Gaza and bolster efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East. For his part, the U.S. president described the Sharm El-Sheikh ceasefire agreement as “a great deal for Israel, for Arabs, for Muslims, and for the entire world,” emphasizing that the agreement represents a decisive step toward ending the war and beginning a new phase of reconstruction and peace in the Middle East. Trump had presented his 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza on September 30, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which received positive reactions.
In the same context, former Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Barakat Al-Farra considers the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit a significant political event, as it brings together a large number of leaders at a critical moment for the region, reflecting the world’s respect for Egypt’s regional standing and its consistent role in Arab affairs. However, he believes that achieving peace in Gaza is not guaranteed, describing Tel Aviv as “an extremist adversary that seeks to achieve its strategic goals by any means.” He warned that the occupying state might implement only the first phase of the agreement, then create a new crisis and resume the war. He stressed that for the summit’s outcomes to succeed, a UN Security Council resolution under Chapter VII is required to compel Israel to comply, in addition to guarantees from participating countries—particularly the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates—to ensure sustained implementation and prevent backtracking after the first phase.
Speaking to Zawia3, the Palestinian diplomat affirmed that maintaining a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire requires full commitment from all parties, stressing that the conference is of utmost importance and represents a genuine opportunity to achieve a breakthrough in the peace process if its recommendations are implemented practically and with international support.
Commenting on the absence of Israel and Hamas from the summit, Al-Farra said: “That does not mean the recommendations will be non-binding. Both parties have already reached an agreement, and what is happening now is merely the announcement. If the United States adheres to implementing what was agreed upon, there will be a real opportunity for the deal to succeed.”
As for Gaza’s future after the war, Al-Farra said it is difficult to predict the outcome, given the complex political and military realities on the ground, as Israel still enforces what is known as the “yellow line,” dividing Gaza into zones, which complicates any clear vision for the future. He added that the situation in Gaza is extremely complex, and no one can confirm whether the Israeli army will fully withdraw or remain stationed in specific areas. Therefore, discussions about Hamas’s future or postwar governance in Gaza remain speculative.
He noted that President Trump envisions Gaza’s reconstruction through an approach closer to an investment project, but Egypt’s firm rejection of displacement played a decisive role in halting any plans to resettle Palestinians outside Gaza.
Al-Farra emphasized that Palestinian hopes are centered on reintegrating Gaza into the Palestinian state and ending internal division, stressing the need for national unity to rebuild the Strip with its own capabilities while accepting the presence of temporary UN international monitoring forces to ensure stability and implementation of agreements. He expressed hope that international efforts led by Egypt would succeed in solidifying the ceasefire, rebuilding Gaza, and restoring Palestinian unity, making the latest conference a genuine starting point for a new phase—provided that there is sincere political will and binding international guarantees.
For his part, researcher and writer specializing in Palestinian and Israeli affairs Ibrahim Al-Dirawi said the latest war on Gaza revealed the extent of human losses on both sides and further isolated Israel internationally. He explained that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now facing legal prosecution and cannot visit countries that have ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court for fear of arrest, while Cairo succeeded in pushing Israel toward ending the war and transitioning to a new political track.
Speaking to Zawia3, Al-Dirawi said: “The Sharm El-Sheikh Summit, described as ‘the G20 for Gaza or for Middle East peace,’ effectively became the G25 Summit, given the participation of more than 25 leaders from Arab, Islamic, and international countries.” He noted that the summit’s scale reflects the success of Egyptian diplomacy over the past two years—both in dealing with Tel Aviv and in mobilizing international positions against its policies in Gaza.
Regarding Trump’s peace initiative, which consists of 20 points, Al-Dirawi explained that Egypt had previously submitted a comprehensive proposal to the Biden administration that included four main pillars: prisoner exchange, reconstruction, full humanitarian aid delivery, and activation of the two-state solution as the only guarantee of security and stability for both Palestinians and Israelis. He stressed that most subsequent American initiatives—whether under Trump, Biden, or Secretary of State Antony Blinken—were fundamentally based on Egypt’s proposal. However, he added, none of this will be achievable without the two-state solution, which remains impossible under Netanyahu’s current government that has no interest in peace with Palestinians or Arab states.
He continued: “Egypt and Arab diplomacy managed to isolate the occupying state internationally and restrain its behavior within the United Nations, bringing it to a stage of ‘political freezing.’ This has allowed the Palestinian cause to regain broad Arab and international support against forced displacement. The Egyptian president’s firm stance on the red lines concerning the forced displacement of Palestinians or the liquidation of their cause has reinforced the international community’s trust in Egypt’s role.”
As for Gaza’s postwar future, Al-Dirawi pointed out that the reconstruction phase may take up to five years before the Strip fully recovers and normal life resumes. He noted that the return of around 500,000 Palestinians to northern Gaza within just 24 hours indicates the population’s strong desire to reclaim their lives despite the massive destruction left by the war. He predicted that the coming stage will witness intensified efforts to rebuild Gaza and sustain the ceasefire, with Egypt serving as the main guarantor of peace.
What Is the Significance of the Summit?
The Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit goes beyond serving as a formal occasion for signing the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and other Palestinian factions on one side, and Israel on the other. The discussions will focus on ensuring the sustainability of the ceasefire, stabilizing the situation on the ground, and preventing renewed hostilities amid serious and legitimate doubts about Israel’s intentions toward Gaza and its plans for the postwar political and security arrangements. The summit will also address future security frameworks, including the potential formation of international stabilization forces, the nature of Israel’s presence along the Salah Al-Din (Philadelphi) Corridor, and mechanisms of military and civilian coordination involving U.S. forces. In addition, it will discuss the international guarantees required for reconstruction and for maintaining the ceasefire, according to Ambassador Rakha Ahmed Hassan, former Assistant Foreign Minister, member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, and member of the Egyptian United Nations Association.
Speaking to Zawia3, Hassan said: “Egypt is acting out of concern that Israel might renege on its commitments, and through the summit it seeks to rally broad international support to ensure the continuation of the truce and prevent negotiations from stalling. We remember a similar experience in March 2019, when Israel obstructed the talks, which led to a war that lasted around eight months. But the participation of Arab and international leaders in this summit constitutes a political guarantee to reduce the chances of renewed fighting and to pressure Israel to adhere to the agreement.”
The former assistant foreign minister believes that the future of Gaza cannot be separated from the broader regional context, as the issues under discussion include reconstruction, the maintenance of peace, the promotion of regional stability, and the pursuit of Middle East peace. He noted that the outcomes of the Gaza war will not be confined to the Palestinian arena but will extend their effects across both the regional and international systems. Hassan added that the success of the negotiations and Egypt’s pivotal role could positively reflect on relations with the United States and may help ease tensions in several unresolved files. He further suggested that renewed momentum in Egyptian-American relations could open the door to wider cooperation on other regional crises such as those in Sudan, Libya, Lebanon, and Syria—all of which intersect with Egypt’s strategic interests. He described the summit as a genuine opportunity to reorganize the region’s complex issues on new foundations of cooperation and stability.
For his part, Ahmed Sultan, a researcher specializing in regional security and terrorism, believes that the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit transcends being merely a ceremonial event or a formal signing of the ceasefire agreement, which has already been concluded between the Palestinian factions—led by Hamas—and Israel. Rather, he explained, the summit focuses on what comes after: the mechanisms to ensure the durability of the truce and prevent the resumption of hostilities amid genuine concerns about Israel’s postwar intentions toward Gaza and its future security arrangements.
Sultan told Zawia3 that the summit addresses multiple security-related files, foremost among them the mechanisms for the deployment of international forces—or what is being referred to as “international stabilization forces.” It will also discuss Israel’s presence in the Salah Al-Din (Philadelphi) Corridor, as well as the expected nature of military and civilian coordination between those forces and the United States. The summit also aims to secure guarantees from the participating countries to support Gaza’s reconstruction efforts and ensure the permanence of the ceasefire.
He added: “Egypt is acting out of concern that Israel might violate the current agreement and is working, through international and Arab mobilization, to secure the continuity of the deal and prevent its collapse.” Sultan recalled that previous experiences have shown Israel’s tendency to obstruct negotiations, as happened in March 2019, when Israeli procrastination led to a war that lasted around eight months before a new truce was reached.
The researcher noted that inviting a large number of Arab and international leaders to participate in the summit serves as a political and diplomatic guarantee for the agreement, aimed at preventing any party from igniting another round of fighting. He emphasized that Cairo seeks to expand the scope of international commitment to the agreement, making it collective rather than merely bilateral between Hamas and Tel Aviv. Sultan described the summit as a pivotal step toward consolidating regional security after the Gaza war, with Egypt seeking to build an international framework that ensures implementation of the deal and prevents a recurrence of the conflict cycle.
He also stressed that Gaza’s future cannot be separated from the regional and global context, explaining that reconstruction, sustained peace, and regional stability have become intertwined. The results of the Gaza war, he said, extend far beyond the borders of the Strip and will have direct implications for the balance of power within both the regional and international systems.
Egyptian-American Rapprochement
Donald Trump’s visit marks his first to Egypt since assuming his second presidential term in January and comes as part of a Middle East tour that includes Tel Aviv and Sharm El-Sheikh. The trip aims to consolidate the ceasefire agreement in Gaza following a war of annihilation that began on October 7, 2023, and lasted more than two years. During his first term (2017–2021), Trump never visited Egypt, though he met President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi several times at international events, including in Riyadh in 2017, in Washington in 2019, and during UN General Assembly meetings in New York.
According to Dr. Amr El-Shobaki, political thinker and advisor at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, Trump’s upcoming visit to Egypt comes at a critical moment marked by broad consensus on the necessity of a Gaza ceasefire, with expectations that the visit could bring tangible progress on this vital issue while also strengthening bilateral relations between Cairo and Washington.
El-Shobaki believes that Egyptian-American relations, though marked by occasional tensions over the decades, remain a deeply rooted strategic partnership based on shared interests and mutual understanding. He views Trump’s visit as an indicator of the continuity of this trajectory and a reinforcement of cooperation across security, political, and economic domains.
Speaking to Zawia3, El-Shobaki said: “Egypt has always been a central regional player, striving to achieve stability and resolve conflicts through diplomatic means. Although it has faced attempts by certain regional powers to undermine its role, Egypt has consistently overcome these challenges and proven its ability to maintain its standing and leadership in the region.”
He added: “Egypt has played—and continues to play—a pivotal role as mediator between conflicting parties in the region, remaining committed to this responsibility as part of its historic and regional mission. Cairo will not relinquish its leading position in the Arab and international arenas.”
El-Shobaki expects that Trump’s visit could open new horizons for future cooperation in several key areas, including counterterrorism, economic collaboration, and support for peaceful conflict resolution. He explained that the timing of the visit gives it particular importance amid the region’s rapid transformations, stressing that talk of other regional states supplanting Egypt’s role lacks substance. “With its long history, military and economic strength, and active diplomacy, Egypt remains the Arab world’s and the region’s center of gravity,” he said.
Regarding the visit’s impact on Egypt’s regional relations, El-Shobaki argued that it would not harm Cairo’s ties with neighboring countries but would rather enhance its international and regional stature. He emphasized that Egypt has never lost its leadership role; instead, it continues to reaffirm it through balanced policy, effective diplomacy, and its capacity to reconcile national interests with regional responsibility. “The United States recognizes Egypt’s importance and seeks to preserve regional stability through close cooperation with Cairo,” he added.
For decades, Egypt and the United States have maintained strategic cooperation on regional peace, counterterrorism, and economic stability. Despite passing through periods of tension in recent years—especially over human rights issues—the relationship has remained strong and influential in shaping Middle Eastern dynamics.
In 2024 and 2025, disagreements emerged between the two countries over the Gaza war and Trump’s proposal to relocate Gaza’s population to Egypt and Jordan. In February, Trump even threatened to cut U.S. aid to Egypt if Cairo rejected parts of his peace plan. Egypt subsequently canceled a planned presidential visit to Washington that same month. Nonetheless, security and diplomatic coordination between the two countries continued across sensitive regional issues.
According to Emile Amin, writer and researcher specializing in American and international affairs, the recent meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Qatari prime minister—along with Washington’s regional moves—signals a phase of “renewed rapprochement” between the U.S. and the Gulf states. However, he stressed that this does not mean Egypt’s role is diminishing. Rather, it reflects a restructuring of regional balances in which Egypt remains a strategic player and a central pillar in Washington’s upcoming regional strategies.
Amin told Zawia3 that the relationship between Cairo and Washington currently enjoys a high degree of “political chemistry,” which could help both sides overcome future obstacles in the American plan related to the ceasefire, Gaza’s reconstruction, and the final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Regarding Egypt’s stance on the proposed displacement of Gaza’s population—a concept first introduced under the “Deal of the Century”—Amin affirmed that Egypt categorically rejected such proposals. This position, he said, strengthened Cairo’s international standing and respect. He added that Egypt acted at a critical moment when the global consensus was aligned: over 160 countries called for a ceasefire and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, while the United States faced growing global criticism for its unwavering bias toward Israel.
“Egypt succeeded during this phase in achieving tangible political gains,” Amin continued, “most notably halting the destruction, preventing forced displacement, and enabling the return of refugees to their lands. These efforts reflect a long-term strategic vision that goes beyond crisis management to reaffirm Egypt’s leadership in regional affairs.”
He stressed that Egypt’s regional role has not receded in recent years but is instead being exercised with intelligence and flexibility. Egyptian diplomacy, he explained, relies on a “measured, calm approach” rooted in institutional expertise and precise awareness of when to speak, act, or remain silent. He noted that the issue is not about competition among regional powers but about complementarity of roles and collective effort toward a shared goal—supporting the Palestinian cause and ending the suffering of the Palestinian people. Amin pointed out that Cairo’s success in achieving the ceasefire agreement was the result of extensive coordination involving Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, and other countries.
Amin considers Trump’s visit to Egypt a clear recognition of Cairo’s leadership role in the region and an opportunity to redefine Egyptian-American relations on a more balanced and mutually respectful foundation that serves shared interests and strengthens regional stability. He stressed that the coming phase requires continued Arab cooperation to sustain calm and achieve genuine progress toward peace.
For his part, Dr. Ahmed Said Ahmed, expert in international relations and U.S. affairs at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit and Trump’s visit to Egypt constitute a significant event with multiple political and strategic implications. He emphasized the strength of Egyptian-American relations, describing them as a comprehensive strategic partnership spanning political, security, and economic levels. He explained that ties between Cairo and Washington are built on close cooperation in regional security, counterterrorism, and economic development. “The United States relies heavily on Egypt’s role in achieving security and stability in the Middle East, given Egypt’s political and economic weight and its position as a key regional power,” he said.
Speaking to Zawia3, Ahmed explained: “The visit reflects President Trump’s confidence in Egypt’s ability to maintain security and stability in the region as a force of moderation that always seeks peaceful conflict resolution. Egypt’s regional role is based on supporting stability and pursuing diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts, while the United States continues to back Egypt in military, economic, and counterterrorism cooperation.”
The U.S. affairs expert noted that despite disagreements with certain American and Israeli policies—especially since the outbreak of the Palestinian crisis—Egypt has maintained strong relations with Washington rooted in mutual interests and respect. He emphasized that the Egyptian-American partnership remains deeply entrenched and resilient to temporary disputes or isolated policy differences, adding that Egypt’s rejection of earlier U.S. displacement proposals demonstrates the firmness of its position and the independence of its national decision-making.
Despite recent tensions, the United States continues to provide Egypt with annual military aid worth 1.3 billion dollars, a program that has been ongoing since 1987 and has exceeded 50 billion dollars in total. American economic aid to Egypt has surpassed 30 billion dollars, averaging 250 million dollars per year until 2009.
The United States is also one of the largest investors in the Egyptian economy, particularly in the energy, financial services, and industrial sectors. According to the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, about 1,800 U.S. companies currently operate in the country, with cumulative investments exceeding 47 billion dollars over the past two decades. As of February 2025, U.S. non-petroleum capital investments in Egypt amounted to approximately 2.5 billion dollars, distributed across around 2,016 American projects.
Why Has Washington’s Position Toward Cairo Changed?
Dr. Sameh El-Garhy, Professor of International Relations at Cairo University, believes that the shift in the American position reflects the Trump administration’s realization—shared by Washington’s political and security institutions—that the key to Middle East stability lies in Cairo. He explains that Egypt, with its deep historical roots, economic and military capabilities, and extensive network of regional and international relations, represents the most powerful regional actor in the area and holds decisive influence over its critical issues.
Speaking to Zawia3, El-Garhy said: “From the very beginning, Egypt took a principled and firm stance in rejecting any plan to alter the demographic reality in Palestinian territories and has steadfastly borne the consequences of that position. Its success in achieving a ceasefire agreement reaffirms its status as a cornerstone of regional security and stability, and as the backbone of the Arab nation.”
The professor noted that tensions in Egyptian-American relations during previous periods—whether under former U.S. President Barack Obama or early in Trump’s first term—did not cause any genuine strategic rupture between the two countries. He emphasized that Egypt’s rejection of the displacement plan once promoted by the U.S. administration marked an important turning point that redefined the relationship on the basis of parity and mutual respect.
He added: “Trump’s current visit represents a shift in Washington’s approach to Egypt, signaling its recognition that Cairo is not just another actor in regional dynamics but a principal decision-maker that cannot be bypassed—whether regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or broader regional security issues.” El-Garhy stressed that despite Egypt’s ongoing economic challenges, it still retains substantial political and diplomatic weight and remains capable of influencing regional power balances.
El-Garhy also pointed to signs of a regional reordering of priorities and an increasing level of Egyptian-American coordination. He suggested that Trump’s visit to Egypt could pave the way for stronger U.S. support toward solutions that take Egypt’s interests into account and ensure stability across the Nile Basin. He highlighted the Sudanese crisis as one of the key areas of close Egyptian-American cooperation, with Washington now recognizing Egypt’s crucial role in advancing political settlement efforts and safeguarding Red Sea and southern border security.
Meanwhile, Abu Bakr Al-Deeb, a researcher in international relations, believes the visit signifies Washington’s renewed acknowledgment of Egypt’s regional role as a fundamental pillar of the Middle East’s security and stability architecture. The timing, he said, is particularly sensitive, as multiple regional and international files are intertwined, making this visit the first major milestone in Egyptian-American relations in years.
Al-Deeb explained that over the past two decades, relations between Cairo and Washington have fluctuated between cautious partnership and quiet tension. Yet successive U.S. administrations have consistently viewed Egypt as an indispensable regional hub. With Trump’s return to the American political scene, the researcher sees a U.S. effort to redefine its relationship with Egypt on more balanced and mutually respectful grounds.
He told Zawia3: “The visit carries symbolic weight—it reaffirms Egypt’s regional stature after attempts by some regional powers to fill the American vacuum in the Middle East. The reality has proven that Egypt remains the only state capable of combining historical legitimacy, institutional capacity, and geographic influence stretching from North Africa to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea.”
From the American perspective, Al-Deeb noted, the visit falls within Washington’s broader realignment of its Middle East priorities. The United States now realizes that counterterrorism, energy security, and the stability of navigation in the Suez Canal and the Red Sea cannot be achieved without close coordination with Cairo. The visit, he added, reflects a U.S. desire to rebuild bridges with reliable allies following a period of confusion in American foreign policy.
“Egypt’s stability is the safety valve for the entire region,” Al-Deeb continued. “Washington understands that any disruption to this stability would have direct repercussions on its interests in the Middle East. The visit constitutes explicit American recognition of Egypt’s pivotal role in regional affairs—from the Palestinian issue to efforts for stabilization in Sudan and Libya, as well as in addressing challenges in the Red Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Al-Deeb expects that the economic file will feature prominently during the visit, as the Trump administration seeks to expand U.S. investments in Egypt’s energy and infrastructure sectors, alongside cooperation in cybersecurity and advanced technology. He also does not rule out broader military collaboration in the coming period, including new training and intelligence-sharing programs.
Despite these positive indicators, Al-Deeb noted that several contentious issues remain between the two sides, including human rights and certain regional stances. Nonetheless, he views the visit as an opportunity for political transparency and a redefinition of cooperation priorities in ways that serve both nations’ interests—marking the beginning of a new phase in Egypt-U.S. strategic relations built on mutual respect and shared interests.
In conclusion, the anticipated visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to Egypt represents a pivotal moment in the trajectory of Egyptian-American relations and an opportunity to recalibrate the regional balance of power in the Middle East after two years of war in Gaza. While Washington seeks to reaffirm its role as sponsor of the peace process, Cairo consolidates its position as an indispensable regional force—one that no equation for the region’s security and stability can exclude.
