Egypt and Turkey Strengthen Ties Amid Regional Crises. Cairo, Egypt — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks in Cairo on Wednesday, marking a significant rapprochement between the two nations and signaling a united stance on regional issues, including those in Gaza, Sudan, and Iran.
The meeting, which follows nearly a decade of strained relations, resulted in a series of new partnership agreements and highlighted the countries’alignment on key regional crises.
Since Sisi’s removal of Muslim Brotherhood-aligned president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, Egypt and Turkey had been at odds, with Erdogan initially vowing never to speak to Sisi.
However, relations have warmed since 2023, with both leaders meeting multiple times and normalizing ties. At a joint news conference, Sisi noted that bilateral trade between Egypt and Turkey had reached nearly $9 billion, making Egypt Turkey’s leading trading partner in Africa.
The two countries, which now form half of the mediating bloc for the current Gaza truce, also backed the Sudanese army in its conflict with paramilitary forces and shared converging regional positions. Sisi emphasized the need to implement all phases of the US-brokered Gaza truce agreement, rejecting any attempts to circumvent or obstruct President Donald Trump’s peace plan. Both leaders also called for international support for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza.
Regarding Sudan, Sisi expressed a desire for a “humanitarian truce that leads to a ceasefire and a comprehensive political path, “while urging efforts to avoid escalation in the region. Erdogan echoed the call for diplomacy, emphasizing that foreign interference poses significant risks and that dialogue is the most appropriate method for addressing disputes with Iran. Both leaders also emphasized support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and condemned Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland.
This move, according to analysts, indicates an emerging regional security axis that includes Saudi Arabia. Turkey’s agreement to supply Egypt with advanced drones in 2024 and the joint manufacturing plan further underscores the deepening military and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
The meeting between Sisi and Erdogan comes at a critical time, as the region grapples with multiple crises.
The strengthening of ties between Egypt and Turkey could potentially have a significant impact on the resolution of these issues.
