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 strengthen relations between their countries.

Relations between Turkey and Egypt have been strained since 2013, when Egyptian army commander el-Sisi announced the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood member and ally of Turkey. However, diplomatic efforts in 2020 helped ease tensions, and the two countries have since exchanged ambassadorial appointments.

During their meeting, Erdogan and el-Sisi signed 18 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on cooperation in various fields, including energy, defense, tourism, health, agriculture, finance, culture, education, and transport. The Turkish president expressed his desire to increase trade between the two countries from $10 billion to $15 billion in the near term.

Erdogan emphasized the importance of strengthening relations with Egypt, particularly in the areas of natural gas and nuclear energy. He also reiterated Turkey’s and Egypt’s desire to increase annual trade by $5 billion to $15 billion in the next five years.

The two leaders also discussed the Palestinian issue, with Erdogan stating that Turkey and Egypt have a “common position” on the matter. They called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an end to violence in the West Bank. Turkey has condemned Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and has provided thousands of tons of aid to Egypt for the Palestinians.

Additionally, Erdogan and el-Sisi discussed the situation in Libya, where their countries have differing positions. They agreed to consult within their institutions to achieve security and political stability in Libya, emphasizing the importance of holding presidential and legislative elections, withdrawing illegal foreign forces and mercenaries, and ending the phenomenon of armed militias.

Key Takeaways from the Meeting

• Turkey and Egypt signed 18 MoUs on cooperation in various fields.
• Erdogan expressed his desire to increase trade between the two countries from $10 billion to $15 billion.
• The two leaders discussed the Palestinian issue and called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
• They also discussed the situation in Libya and agreed to consult within their institutions to achieve security and stability.