Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, the President of Egypt, is scheduled to visit Turkey for the first time since assuming office early next month. This visit is a symbolic gesture of reconciliation after a decade of hostile relations between the two nations.
The Israeli war on Gaza and the measures being taken to prosecute Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes will be the primary topics of Sisi’s meeting with Turkey’s President Erdogan, according to Turkish media.
The most recent developments in Libya, Sudan, and Somalia, as well as other regional issues related to stability and peace, will also be the subject of discussion between the two leaders.
Relations have recently improved, as evidenced by the recent visit of Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to Cairo’s capital and his meeting with Sisi. The Gaza conflict is a topic on which both parties are increasingly in agreement.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated during a joint press conference on 5 August that he had engaged in discussions with Turkish officials regarding the necessary measures to be taken in advance of Sisi’s visit to Ankara in order to guarantee that it is as “productive” as possible.
Abdelatty also stated that the two nations intend to reach an agreement on numerous cooperation agreements in a variety of sectors, including energy and tourism. Additionally, the inaugural meeting of the new strategic cooperation council will be conducted.
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that Sisi will be joined by a number of entrepreneurs to engage in a conversation regarding energy issues, such as renewable energy, mining, and liquefied natural gas.
In the eastern Mediterranean Sea, both nations have identified substantial gas deposits off their coastlines.
For the first time since 2012, Erdogan and Egypt elevated their relationship to a “strategic cooperation” level during his February visit to Cairo. They described this as the beginning of a “new chapter” in their relationship.
The leaders discussed a variety of topics during the visit, such as the Libyan file, bilateral trade, and energy. The two leaders urged for a “new era in relations” and for bilateral trade to reach $15 billion annually “within a few years.”
In 2021, Turkey made efforts to establish relations with Egypt’s allies, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, following a period of isolation and economic hardship for Ankara. This was accompanied by slow signals of a gradual rapprochement between Ankara and Cairo.
The two nations exchanged ambassadors in 2023, and relations have been steadily improving since late 2023, following Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Israel’s bombardment has demolished entire neighbourhoods and has plunged the enclave into a severe humanitarian crisis. Despite this, both nations have pledged to collaborate in efforts to end the war on Gaza.
Strained Relations
A decade ago, Egypt’s defence minister, el-Sisi, ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, who was an ally of Turkey and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood movement. Consequently, Turkey’s relations with Egypt were severely strained.
Since 2013, Sisi has implemented an extensive crackdown on pro-democracy activists and members of the Muslim Brotherhood, resulting in the imprisonment of approximately 60,000 political detainees. Erdogan asserted his intention never to clasp hands with Sisi, characterizing him as a “brutal dictator” at the time.
Erdoğan declared at that time that he would never engage in conversation with “anyone” like Sisi, who was elected president of the Arab world’s most populous nation in 2014.
In 2020, Ankara initiated efforts to restore its relationship with el-Sisi.
In May 2021, the initial indications of a thaw were observed when a Turkish delegation visited Egypt to deliberate on the potential for normalization.
In November 2022, Erdoğan and Sisi exchanged handshakes in Qatar, which the Egyptian presidency hailed as a new chapter in their relationship.
Subsequently, the two leaders engaged in a telephone conversation following the two catastrophic disasters that struck Turkey in February 2023.
The two nations’ reciprocal appointment of ambassadors in July 2023 marked the culmination of the normalization of relations.
During his historic visit to Cairo on February 14, Erdoğan, who had previously referred to Sisi as a “murderer, oppressor, and putschist” for his involvement in the 2013 military rebellion, addressed him as “my brother” after an 11-year absence.
