Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty warned on Monday that the Middle East faces the risk of “total chaos” and a comprehensive regional war, as he conducted an intensive series of diplomatic calls to contain a dangerous military escalation.
During a telephone call with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis on Monday, Abdelatty highlighted the “extremely dangerous developments” in the region. He emphasised the necessity of concerted regional and international efforts to avoid a descent into widespread instability, outlining Egypt’s ongoing attempts to promote a diplomatic path and dialogue to contain the situation.
Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s “complete condemnation” of attacks on the territories of sisterly Arab states, stating that any violation of the sovereignty of an Arab nation constitutes a direct threat to both Egyptian and Arab national security. He further stressed the importance of maintaining the freedom of international maritime navigation and ensuring it is not obstructed in any way, citing the potentially “dire economic and security consequences” for the global community.
The two ministers agreed to maintain coordination within the framework of the strategic relationship between Egypt and Greece to support all efforts aimed at de-escalation.
In a separate discussion on Monday, Abdelatty spoke with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein to discuss the successive regional developments and the implications of the “dangerous military escalation.” Abdelatty warned that the continued cycle of military operations threatens to drag the entire region into total chaos. He underlined the “extreme necessity” of prioritising diplomacy to prevent the conflict from expanding, which he noted could result in “catastrophic” security and humanitarian outcomes.
The call with Hussein also addressed the direct impact of the escalation on Iraq. Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the stability, unity, and territorial integrity of Iraq, as well as the efforts of the Iraqi government to assert its sovereignty.The two ministers also coordinated on the expected outcomes of the ordinary meeting of the Council of the League of Arab States, which is scheduled to be held virtually at the ministerial level on March 29.
These discussions follow a series of high-level communications on Sunday, March 22, conducted by Abdelatty under the directives of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. These calls included talks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
According to Ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf, these Sunday communications focused on the military escalation and its threats to regional security, particularly regarding the targeting of civilian facilities and infrastructure. Abdelatty urged “self-restraint and wisdom” during this critical phase.
He reiterated the importance of securing maritime navigation, noting the impact of disruptions on global trade, supply chains, and the prices of oil and food. Abdelatty also reaffirmed Egypt’s position in support of Gulf security, “categorically rejecting” any attacks on Gulf states and noting that the security of the Gulf is directly linked to Egyptian and regional national security.
The parties involved in the Sunday discussions agreed to continue consultations as they seek to prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.
