Egypt and Turkey: A New Era of Cooperation

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s visit to Ankara has been hailed as a significant and historic moment in the relations between the two countries. The visit, which took place on Wednesday, marked a new chapter in the bilateral ties between Egypt and Turkey.

Al-Sisi was welcomed in Ankara by his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the two leaders held a meeting of the “High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.” The meeting was followed by the signing of a series of agreements covering various areas, including energy, trade, culture, defense, and security.

A New Phase in Relations

The visit marked a significant shift in the relations between the two countries, which had been strained since 2012. The signing of the agreements and the meeting between the two leaders signaled a new phase in the bilateral ties, one that is characterized by cooperation and mutual understanding.

Egyptian author and journalist Ashraf al-Ashry believes that Sisi’s visit to Ankara “represents the beginning of a return to a new page in terms of the path of relations.” He explained that the two leaders will discuss various issues, including the situation in Libya and Gaza, and emphasize the Arab and regional consensus on the possibility of a ceasefire in the besieged Valley.

Economic Cooperation

The agreements signed between the two countries are expected to increase the volume of trade exchanges to $15 billion, up from about $10 billion. The cooperation in the field of energy offers various opportunities for the two countries, especially in cooperation in the liquefied natural gas, nuclear, and renewable energy sectors.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said earlier this year that Turkey had agreed to supply drones to Egypt following a request from Cairo. The cooperation in the security and defense sectors is expected to be developed further.

A New Era of Cooperation

Researcher Gune believes that “there are many dimensions that Erdogan and Sisi will address.” He said: “After Sisi’s visit, we expect another visit to Egypt by Erdogan. This indicates that Turkey has turned the page of differences and turned the page of the Arab Spring, so to speak, after making radical changes to countries including Egypt and Syria.”

There may be a consensus between Turkey and Egypt on the Mediterranean gas issue, and Egyptian writer Al-Ashry hopes that the two countries “will move towards delimiting the Eastern Mediterranean region, as Cairo did with Greece and Cyprus.”

Al-Ashry added: “Egypt will open its arms with Turkey and there will be extensive discussions, and in return there will be another area of cooperation that needs some time, especially on Libya.”