Historic Visit: Egypt’s President El-Sisi in Turkey for Landmark Diplomatic Meeting
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Salma Hossein
- . September 4, 2024
- . Update: September 4, 2024 8:56 pm
Wednesday marks the historic visit to Turkey of Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, first official travel to Ankara since he took office in 2014. This trip marks a turning point in Egypt’s diplomatic relationship with Turkey, two powerful regional nations whose ties have been tense for years. Focusing on a spectrum of subjects from energy to military, the meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is prepared to usher in a new age of cooperation and mutual respect, notably with reference to the continuous struggle in Gaza.
After years of tense ties, El-Sisi’s trip to Turkey marks a major diplomatic turning point. Deep political and ideological disagreements drove the coldness in their relationship, especially after Egypt’s then-President Mohamed Mursi was overthrown militarily in 2013. Strong supporter of Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood, Erdogan had openly attacked El-Sisi’s government. But six months ago, Erdogan’s journey to Cairo signaled the start of a thaw, which prepared El-Sisi’s reciprocal trip to Ankara. This visit is expected to help to mend fences and investigate fresh cooperative opportunities.
The continuing Israel-Hamas conflict will be among the main subjects of conversation between El-Sisi and Erdogan. Both leaders have been critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, and their shared posture helps to explain why they are so important in supporting a cease-fire. Their conversations should cover not only the immediate stop of hostilities but also the more general problem of Gaza’s rehabilitation. With their combined weight, El-Sisi and Erdogan might be very important in determining global initiatives to reconstruct Gaza and assist in humanitarian relief once the conflict stops.
Boosting Economic Relations: Trade Objectives and Cooperation Deals
Egypt and Turkey are supposed to conclude about twenty cooperation agreements meant to strengthen bilateral commercial ties during the visit. Trade volume should rise from about $10 billion to $15 billion. Importing liquefied natural gas from Egypt appeals especially to Turkey since it fits with its plan to become a major European energy hub. Plans also call for revitalizing and improving goods shipping routes between Turkey’s port of Mersin and Egypt’s Alexandria, therefore enabling more trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Regarding defense, Turkey wants to increase its market for armored vehicles and armed drones among other military equipment. By means of strengthened defense collaboration with Egypt, Turkish defense exports may find fresh prospects and deeper strategic connections could be promoted. This feature of their relationship emphasizes the complex character of the increasing cooperation between Turkey and Egypt since both nations want to improve their defense capacity and create fresh defense industry alliances.
Erdogan’s More General Diplomatic Strategy: Rebuilding Relationships with Arab Powers
Erdogan’s visits to Egypt fit a larger plan to mend and deepen relationships with important Arab countries. Turkey has also been trying to mend ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates during the last two years. Turkey’s diplomatic drive reflects its desire to boost its economy by higher investment and trade, therefore strengthening its regional influence. Through improved relations with powerful Arab governments, Erdogan hopes to provide Turkey’s geopolitical and economic objectives a more favorable surroundings.
Political and historical elements have created a tense relationship between Turkey and Egypt. A major divide resulted from the 2013 military-backed ouster of Mohamed Mursi, who aligned with Islamist ideas of Turkey. Notwithstanding these obstacles, the present diplomatic initiatives show a readiness on both sides to go beyond differences and concentrate on areas of common interest and profit.
Looking Ahead: Implications for Regional and Global Relations
El-Sisi’s trip to Turkey marks a geopolitical realignment with possible consequences for regional and world relations, not only a diplomatic formality. Working to deepen their ties, Egypt and Turkey could impact important regional concerns including defense policies, economic development, and the Gaza conflict. Furthermore influencing their connections with other world powers and helping to define the larger geopolitical scene may be the fresh cooperation between these two countries.
The visit of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Turkey signals the beginning of a fresh phase in Egypt– Turkey cooperation. From energy and defense to regional diplomacy, the conversations and agreements expected from this visit will probably provide the groundwork for more collaboration in many spheres. The world will be observing how both countries negotiate this new age of cooperation and what effects their alliance will have on regional stability and world relations. The success of this visit might open the path for a more integrated and cooperative strategy to handle common possibilities and problems going forward.
