Ankara, Turkey — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on September 4, marking the first presidential-level visit between the two nations in 12 years. This visit is seen as a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to mend the long-standing strained relations between Egypt and Turkey.
The visit follows Erdoğan’s trip to Cairo in February, his first since 2012, signaling a renewed commitment to restoring ties that had been severely damaged over the past decade. The diplomatic thaw comes after years of tension, primarily rooted in the aftermath of the 2013 military coup in Egypt, led by then-General Sisi, which ousted President Mohamed Morsi, a close ally of Erdoğan and member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
According to a statement released by the Turkish presidency on September 3, the discussions between Sisi and Erdoğan will cover a wide range of topics. “Turkey-Egypt relations will be reviewed in all their aspects, and possible joint steps to further develop cooperation will be discussed,” the statement said. The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on key regional and global issues, with a focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Sisi’s arrival in Ankara is scheduled for 2 p.m. local time (1100 GMT), with a joint press conference planned for 5 p.m. (1400 GMT).
Diplomatic ties between Ankara and Cairo began to deteriorate in 2013, following Sisi’s coup against Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president. Morsi had visited Turkey in 2012, marking a high point in relations between the two countries. However, the coup, which Erdoğan openly condemned, led to a deep freeze in bilateral relations.
Efforts to repair the relationship gained momentum in 2020 when Turkey launched a diplomatic initiative to ease tensions with several regional rivals, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. In 2022, both Turkey and Egypt reappointed ambassadors, marking a turning point in their diplomatic relations. Erdoğan’s visit to Cairo earlier this year underscored the countries’ shared interest in boosting trade, with a goal of increasing bilateral trade from $10 billion to $15 billion in the short term. The two nations are expected to sign around 20 agreements to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including energy, defense, tourism, health, culture, and education. Additionally, there are plans to deepen collaboration on renewable energy and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Turkey has also praised Egypt’s humanitarian efforts and role as a mediator in ceasefire talks, particularly in the context of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ankara, which has strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, has sent substantial aid to Egypt for distribution to Palestinians, further highlighting the improving relations between the two regional powers.
The decade-long rift between the leaders began in 2013, when Sisi, then Egypt’s defense minister, led a military coup against President Morsi, who had been democratically elected in 2012. Turkey, under Erdoğan’s leadership, was a staunch supporter of Morsi’s government due to shared ideological ties with the Muslim Brotherhood. Erdoğan’s refusal to recognize Sisi’s government and his continued opposition to the coup created a deep diplomatic rift between Turkey and Egypt, as well as strained relations with other Gulf nations.
This period of Turkish foreign policy, often described as one of “precious loneliness” by Erdoğan’s former chief foreign policy advisor İbrahim Kalın, is now giving way to a more pragmatic approach as both countries seek to restore and strengthen their ties.
This historic visit marks a new chapter in Turkey-Egypt relations, with both nations looking to the future with a renewed focus on cooperation and mutual interests.
