Turkish President Erdogan Meets with Egyptian Counterpart el-Sisi to Discuss Gaza War and Bilateral Relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Ankara, marking the first visit to Turkey since el-Sisi took office. The two leaders discussed the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and ways to reform relations between their countries.

Background on Turkey-Egypt Relations

Relations between Ankara and Cairo deteriorated in 2013 after Egyptian army commander el-Sisi announced the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood member and ally of Turkey. Morsi was the first democratically elected Egyptian president and had visited Turkey in 2012.

Recent Developments in Turkey-Egypt Relations

In 2020, Ankara began a diplomatic campaign to ease tensions with regional powers, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The two countries exchanged ambassadorial appointments last year, and Ankara has announced plans to supply armed drones to Cairo.

Economic Cooperation and Trade

Erdogan stated that the two countries aim to increase trade from $10 billion to $15 billion in the near term. During their meeting, the ministers of the two countries signed 18 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on cooperation in various fields, including energy, defense, tourism, health, agriculture, finance, culture, education, and transport.

Joint Statement on the Palestinian Issue

At a joint press conference, Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s and Egypt’s desire to increase annual trade and emphasized their shared position on the Palestinian issue. Both leaders called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an end to violence in the West Bank.

Humanitarian Efforts and Libya Crisis

Turkey has sent thousands of tons of aid to Egypt for the Palestinians and praised Cairo’s humanitarian efforts and its role as a negotiator and mediator in negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement and release hostages. The two leaders also discussed the situation in Libya, with el-Sisi stating that they exchanged views on the crisis and agreed to consult within their institutions to achieve security and political stability in Libya.

Key Takeaways from the Meeting

• Turkey and Egypt aim to increase trade from $10 billion to $15 billion in the near term.
• The two countries signed 18 MoUs on cooperation in various fields.
• Both leaders called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an end to violence in the West Bank.
• Turkey and Egypt agreed to consult within their institutions to achieve security and political stability in Libya.