Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Shifting alliances in the Middle East are gaining momentum as Egypt and Türkiye move to strengthen defense and economic cooperation, signaling a broader regional realignment after years of political estrangement between the two countries.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan witnessed the signing of a series of agreements in Cairo aimed at bolstering strategic cooperation across multiple sectors, including defense, trade, and investment. The agreements and memoranda of understanding cover military cooperation, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, social protection, youth and sports, as well as plant quarantine and veterinary services.
Speaking at a joint press conference following the talks, President El-Sisi said bilateral trade between Egypt and Türkiye currently stands at around $9 billion, making Egypt Türkiye’s largest trading partner in Africa. Türkiye, in turn, is among the leading destinations for Egyptian exports. Both leaders agreed to raise the volume of bilateral trade to $15 billion and to remove obstacles hindering the achievement of this goal, while expanding mutual investments and broader economic cooperation.
President Erdoğan made a one-day visit to Cairo, during which he and President El-Sisi attended the closing session of the Egyptian-Turkish Business Forum and co-chaired the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, underscoring the institutional depth of the renewed partnership.
Beyond economic cooperation, the two leaders discussed a wide range of regional and international issues, including efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, the crisis in Sudan, developments in Libya and Syria, the war in Ukraine, and tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.
“I discussed with my brother, the president of Türkiye, the sincere and genuine efforts undertaken by Egypt and Türkiye to de-escalate tensions in the region, promote diplomatic solutions, and avert the specter of war,” President El-Sisi said, referring both to the Iranian nuclear file and broader regional stability.
The growing coordination between Cairo and Ankara reflects a broader trend of diplomatic recalibration across the Middle East, as regional powers seek to reduce tensions, expand economic ties, and enhance strategic autonomy amid ongoing conflicts and global uncertainty.
