CAIRO — During his Sept. 1 meeting with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reiterated that “the national security of Kuwait and the Gulf countries is an integral part of Egypt’s national security.”

According to an Egyptian presidency statement Sept. 1, the two leaders discussed anti-terrorism efforts, and agreed “to bolster security cooperation between the two countries and to strengthen cooperation to fight terrorist forces seeking to spread strife and vandalism in different countries.” 

Political analysts and experts on Arab relations spoke to Al-Monitor about the importance of the meeting between Sisi and Sabah since it comes at a time when security coordination between the two countries is increasing. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior had arrested a Muslim Brotherhood cell July 12 and handed its members over to Egypt July 14. 

Kuwait and Egypt have also been coordinating their political and security stances regarding some Arab crises, such as the Gulf crisis. Kuwait has been playing the role of mediator since June 2017 to resolve this crisis, in the wake of which Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed ties with Qatar. So far, no progress has been made.