SEOUL, Sept. 05 (AJP) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met in Ankara to discuss the Gaza war and work on mending their long-strained relations, marking the first presidential visit between the two countries in 12 years. Tensions between Turkey and Egypt escalated in 2013 after Sisi, then Egypt's military chief, ousted President Mohamed Mursi, a Turkish ally. However, ties began improving in 2020 when Turkey initiated diplomatic efforts to reconcile with several regional rivals, including Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
In 2022, both nations reinstated ambassadors, and Turkey committed to supplying Egypt with armed drones. Erdogan's visit to Cairo earlier this year was his first since 2012.
During the recent Ankara visit, Erdogan and Sisi held talks for about two hours after meeting at the airport. Erdogan expressed a desire to strengthen ties with Egypt in areas like natural gas and nuclear energy. Additionally, officials from both countries signed 18 agreements covering cooperation in sectors such as energy, defense, tourism, health, and education.
At a joint press conference, Erdogan stated that Turkey and Egypt aim to increase annual trade from $5 billion to $15 billion within the next five years. Both leaders also highlighted their shared stance on the Palestinian issue, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to violence in the West Bank. Turkey has condemned Israel's actions in Gaza and praised Egypt's humanitarian efforts and mediation in ceasefire talks.
The two presidents also discussed the ongoing conflict in Libya, where their countries have supported opposing factions. Sisi emphasized the importance of holding simultaneous elections in Libya, withdrawing foreign forces, and dismantling militias to end the division.
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