Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi visited Ankara on Wednesday for the first time in 12 years to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, marking a significant step towards normalising relations between Egypt and Turkey after a decade of conflict. The leaders will co-chair the inaugural session of the High-Level Strategic Collaboration Council, which aims to improve bilateral collaboration.
According to the Turkish presidency, the summit would evaluate all aspects of Egypt-Turkey relations and discuss new ways to strengthen the partnership. Several agreements are expected to be reached throughout the negotiations. In addition to bilateral talks, the leaders will discuss major regional and global concerns, such as Israeli attacks in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
This visit follows Erdogan’s journey to Cairo in February, which signalled a thaw in relations after years of enmity. Tensions between the two countries rose in 2013 following the ouster of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, a close friend of Turkey’s government. Both countries expelled their ambassadors as relations deteriorated.
Efforts to repair ties began in 2020 when Turkey sought to improve relations with regional rivals such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The warming in relations reflects broader regional realignments, as both governments seek greater stability and collaboration.
