Egypt's Sisi makes first visit to Turkey in 12 years

ANKARA,— Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrived in Ankara on Wednesday, signaling a significant thaw in relations with Turkey. This visit, the first of its kind in 12 years, reflects a growing rapprochement between the two nations, which have been at odds for nearly a decade.

The meeting comes months after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s landmark visit to Cairo in February, his first since 2012. These reciprocal visits are seen as crucial steps toward mending a relationship that was severely strained following the events of 2013. That year, then-General Sisi led the removal of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Mursi, a key ally of Turkey’s government led by Erdogan. The fallout from Mursi’s ouster led to a deep freeze in diplomatic ties between Ankara and Cairo.

In anticipation of Sisi’s visit, the Turkish presidency stated that the leaders would conduct a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and explore potential avenues for enhancing cooperation. The discussions are expected to cover various regional and global issues, with particular attention to the ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Upon Sisi’s arrival, Erdogan personally greeted him at Ankara’s airport, and the two leaders traveled together to the presidential palace for a formal welcome ceremony. The itinerary includes their joint leadership of the inaugural session of the Turkey-Egypt High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, an initiative aimed at deepening bilateral ties.

Sisi expressed optimism about the future of Egyptian-Turkish relations, emphasizing that his visit, along with Erdogan’s earlier trip to Cairo, demonstrates a shared commitment to fostering a new era of friendship and collaboration.

The thaw in relations can be traced back to 2020, when Turkey initiated a broader diplomatic effort to ease tensions with several regional rivals, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

The restoration of ambassadorial ties last year and Turkey’s offer to supply Egypt with armed drones further underscores the renewed momentum in their bilateral relations.

During his Cairo visit, Erdogan highlighted the ambitious goal of increasing annual trade between the two nations from $5 billion to $15 billion in the near future.

According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, the two countries are expected to sign approximately 20 agreements during Sisi’s visit, covering diverse sectors such as energy, defense, tourism, health, culture, and education. Notably, there are plans to expand cooperation in renewable energy and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Turkey’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, particularly its condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza, has aligned closely with Egypt’s efforts to provide humanitarian aid and mediate in truce negotiations. Turkey has dispatched substantial aid to Egypt for Palestinians, underscoring the growing cooperation between the two nations on critical regional issues.

(With files from Reuters)