Egypt – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey on Wednesday in the first presidential-level visit in 12 years as long-frozen relations between the regional heavyweights improve.
Sisi’s visit to Turkey comes after Erdogan’s visit to Cairo in February, his first to Egypt since 2012, taking a major step toward rebuilding relations that have been severely strained over a decade.
The Turkish presidency’s communications office said in a statement on Tuesday, “Turkish-Egyptian relations will be reviewed in all their aspects and possible joint steps in the coming period will be discussed to continue developing cooperation.”
The statement added, “In addition to bilateral relations, views will be exchanged on current regional and global issues, especially the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.”
“The historic visit of Mr. President to Turkey represents a new milestone in the path of strengthening relations between the two countries, building on President Erdogan’s historic visit to Egypt last February, and establishing a new phase of friendship and joint cooperation between the two countries, whether bilaterally or at the regional level, which is witnessing great challenges that require consultation and coordination between the two countries,” the Egyptian presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.
She added that Sisi’s meetings in Turkey will address “ways to advance bilateral relations in various fields, in addition to exchanging views on regional and international issues of common interest, most notably efforts to cease fire in the Gaza Strip, end the humanitarian tragedy in the Strip, and reduce escalation in the Middle East.”
Sisi is scheduled to arrive in Ankara at 2:00 p.m. (1100 GMT), and will hold a joint press conference at 5:00 p.m. (1400 GMT).
Relations between Ankara and Cairo collapsed in 2013 after then-Egyptian military chief Sisi ousted President Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, following mass protests against his one-year rule. Morsi was a Turkish ally and described as Egypt’s first democratically elected president.
Morsi visited Türkiye when he was president in 2012.
Relations between the two countries began to improve in 2020 when Ankara launched a diplomatic campaign to ease tensions with rival powers in the region, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Last year, Turkey and Egypt exchanged ambassadors. Ankara announced it would supply Cairo with armed drones. Erdogan said in Cairo that the two countries wanted to boost trade to $15 billion in the near term from $10 billion.
The two countries will sign about 20 agreements to boost trade ties and cooperation in energy, defense, tourism, health, culture and education, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency said, adding that cooperation in renewable energy and liquefied natural gas is also set to be strengthened.
Turkey, which has denounced Israel for its war in the Gaza Strip, has sent thousands of tons of aid to Egypt for the Palestinians and praised Cairo’s humanitarian efforts and its role as a negotiator in ceasefire talks.
Reuters
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2024-09-04 14:43:07
