IRIA News

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrived in Turkey on an official trip on September 4, 2024. This marks the first official visit by al-Sisi to Turkey since he assumed office in 2014, signaling a potential new chapter in the relationship between Ankara and Cairo, which had been strained for nearly a decade.

The historic visit began with al-Sisi’s arrival at Esenboga Airport in Ankara. Shortly after arriving, the Egyptian President received a formal welcome from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Ankara Governor Vasip Sahin.

Following the ceremonial welcome, the two leaders held a bilateral meeting at the Presidential Complex. The meeting underscored the ongoing efforts by both nations to repair relations that had been deeply fractured following the 2013 ousting of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group long supported by Ankara. The military coup, led by al-Sisi, saw Egypt outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, leading to years of diplomatic tensions between Cairo and Ankara.

In a statement posted on social media, President al-Sisi expressed his optimism for the future of Turkish-Egyptian relations, highlighting the deep historical ties between the two nations. “I express my great happiness with my first visit to the Republic of Türkiye, and my meeting with His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as our two ancient countries share deep-rooted historic and popular relations. They have also had strong political relations since the foundation of the Republic of Türkiye by the founding leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk,” al-Sisi said.

Mısır’la asırları aşan ortak geçmişe ve yakın dostluk bağlarına sahibiz. Ülkelerimiz arasındaki köklü ve çok boyutlu ilişkileri müşterek çabalarımızla sürekli güçlendiriyoruz. 🇹🇷🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/mnm6EGblrD

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) September 4, 2024

He further noted that the visit, along with Erdogan’s prior visit to Cairo in February, reflects a “common will to start a new phase of friendship and cooperation between Egypt and Türkiye.”

The bilateral meeting was followed by the inaugural session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, co-chaired by the two presidents. This council is expected to be a pivotal platform for fostering collaboration in various sectors, including energy, defense, and tourism.

The leaders also oversaw the signing of over a dozen agreements aimed at bolstering economic and strategic ties. The two nations have set an ambitious goal to increase bilateral trade to $15 billion, up from the current $10 billion, as stated by Erdogan during his February visit to Cairo.

Thawing relations

The visit comes at a critical time as the Middle East faces escalating tensions, particularly with the ongoing war in Gaza. Both leaders are expected to discuss the implications of the conflict and explore avenues for cooperation to address the humanitarian crisis and promote stability in the region. The dialogue between Turkey and Egypt on this issue is seen as vital, given their influential roles in the Arab and Islamic worlds.

The thawing of relations between Turkey and Egypt has been a gradual process. It began in earnest in November 2022, when Erdogan and al-Sisi were seen shaking hands at the World Cup in Qatar, a moment that was widely regarded as a significant diplomatic gesture.

This was followed by a visit from Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to Turkey in early 2023 to show solidarity after a devastating earthquake struck southern Turkey and parts of Syria. These interactions have paved the way for the current rapprochement, with both countries seeking to move past their differences and focus on mutual interests.

Erdogan’s outreach to Egypt is part of a broader strategy by Turkey to mend relations with other Arab nations, as Ankara seeks to navigate an economic downturn and secure investments from regional partners. For Egypt, improving ties with Turkey offers opportunities for economic cooperation and enhanced political influence in the region.