Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met in Ankara on Wednesday to further solidify their recently rekindled relationship. The two leaders, who had previously severed ties in 2013 following the Egyptian military’s overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, expressed their desire to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.
During the visit, Erdogan emphasized the commitment to strengthening collaboration in all areas. The two leaders signed 17 cooperation agreements, aiming to bolster economic ties and foster closer collaboration on regional issues. Notably, they discussed the potential for Egypt to purchase Turkish drones.
The meeting marks a significant development in the two countries’ relationship, which had been strained for nearly a decade. Despite the estrangement, trade between Turkey and Egypt continued, with Turkey becoming Egypt’s fifth-largest trading partner and Egypt Turkey’s largest in Africa. The two leaders aim to expand bilateral trade to $15 billion within the next five years.
Both leaders expressed their support for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid in Gaza, where a conflict between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing. Sisi also called for an end to the escalating violence in the West Bank, where Israeli troops have been conducting a military campaign. Additionally, they discussed the situation in Somalia, expressing their shared commitment to preserving the country’s unity and territorial integrity. Both Ankara and Cairo have recently signed military cooperation agreements with Somalia, which is currently in a standoff with the breakaway region of Somaliland.
The meeting signifies a positive shift in relations between Turkey and Egypt, with both leaders demonstrating a commitment to expanding cooperation and addressing common challenges in the region.
