What will Erdogan, el-Sisi discuss in expected trip to Egypt?

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Bloomberg
31 Jan 2024 19:14

Bloomberg, citing unnamed Turkish officials, reveals some of the details of the meeting agenda between Turkey and Egypt's presidents.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the Qatar World Cup in Doha, Qatar, November 20, 2022. (Turkish Presidency Handout)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Egypt next month, as the two countries look to restore ties that have been disrupted for more than a decade, Turkish officials told Bloomberg.

According to the news agency, Erdogan will travel to Egypt on February 14, seeking to boost cooperation in the energy-rich eastern Mediterranean. Relations between the two governments took a downturn following the ousting of late Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood and the eventual accession of then-Commander in Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Bloomberg says the Turkish President has been working to rebuild relations with Egypt and other Arab countries, especially after Ankara and Washington experienced turbulent relations since US President Joe Biden assumed office.

Talks between Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who were both re-elected in 2024, will reportedly focus on aid shipments meant for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and steps that could be taken to end the war, according to Turkish officials.

In the background of the information disseminated by the unnamed Turkish officials were discussions between the two officials on bolstering trade and determining maritime boundaries to enable Turkey to access more Mediterranean energy sources.

Despite shaky diplomatic relations, Turkey remains Egypt's top export market, according to figures from the International Monetary Fund. The two-way commerce has reached around $7 billion between the two nations.

Improving ties since devastating earthquake

Earlier in September 2023, President Erdogan held a private meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the G20 summit's final day in New Delhi, India.

According to Turkey's Communications Directorate, the meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations between Turkey and Egypt, increasing trade volume, exploring new collaborations in the energy sector, and discussing regional and global issues.

Erdogan highlighted that the appointment of mutual ambassadors marks a "new era" in their relations and expressed confidence that bilateral ties will soon reach their deserved level. He emphasized the importance of Egyptian support for Turkish investors and companies, particularly in areas such as LNG, nuclear energy, culture, and education.

In addition to the presidents, the meeting was attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, and Erdogan's chief advisors, Akif Cagatay Kilic and Sefer Turan.

These meetings came after the two governments elevated their diplomatic relations by appointing ambassadors, marking a significant step forward after maintaining only chargé d'affaires level representation since 2013. Notably, President el-Sisi offered condolences to President Erdogan after the devastating earthquake in southern Turkey on February 6.