ALBAWABA- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday, marking a significant step forward in the normalization of relations between Ankara and Cairo after more than a decade of strained ties.
The two leaders co-chaired the second meeting of the Turkey–Egypt High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, during which they signed several agreements aimed at expanding cooperation in trade, defense, energy, and other key sectors.
Erdogan, accompanied by senior officials and business leaders, also attended the closing session of the Turkey–Egypt Business Forum. Both sides set an ambitious target to raise annual bilateral trade to $15 billion, underscoring their shared interest in deepening economic ties. Talks further addressed regional developments, with a particular focus on the war in Gaza and broader stability in the Middle East.
Relations between Turkey and Egypt deteriorated sharply after the 2013 military coup and ouster of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, when Ankara openly opposed the move and backed the Muslim Brotherhood. Disagreements over Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean further widened the rift.
The thaw began in 2021 through exploratory diplomatic talks and culminated in the restoration of full diplomatic relations and ambassadorial appointments in 2023.
During the Cairo meetings, Erdogan and el-Sisi emphasized coordination on humanitarian assistance for Palestinians and efforts to de-escalate the conflict in Gaza, where Egypt continues to play a central mediation role.
The visit followed Erdogan’s February 3 stop in Riyadh, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and signed a major solar energy agreement, reflecting Turkey’s broader effort to strengthen ties with Arab partners.
Erdogan’s back-to-back visits to Saudi Arabia and Egypt highlight Ankara’s diplomatic recalibration toward regional engagement amid heightened tensions in the wider Middle East.
