Egypt, Turkey sign joint declaration to restructure Strategic Cooperation Council

CAIRO - 14 February 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan sign a joint declaration on restructuring the high-level Strategic Cooperation Council meetings between Egypt and Turkey.

 

This visit follows diplomatic and political efforts between the two countries over the past years, culminating on Wednesday in the normalization of relations. There is a convergence between Presidents El-Sisi and Erdogan to address common challenges.

 

Egypt and Turkey agreed at the end of 2010 to establish a high-level Strategic Cooperation Council, aiming to develop bilateral relations in political, economic, and trade fields. The agreement was reached in a meeting between then-Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.

 

Aboul Gheit emphasized at the time that the agreement to establish a high-level Strategic Cooperation Council between Egypt and Turkey is a highly constructive step. He noted that this move would contribute to the development of relations between the two countries, anticipating a significant and comprehensive milestone in Cairo-Ankara relations after the establishment of the Strategic Cooperation Council.

 

The high-level Strategic Cooperation Council serves as an important platform for coordination and consultation between the Egyptian and Turkish sides on various regional and international issues. This includes developments in the Middle East, the Maghreb region, especially Libya, and the situation in the Horn of Africa, as both countries seek to establish security and stability on the African continent.

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed his country's commitment to elevating the level of relations between the two nations, recognizing a similar will on the Egyptian side.

 

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stated that there is an interest in enhancing joint coordination between Egypt and Turkey, leveraging the two states' positions as significant regional players to contribute to achieving peace, stabilizing the region, and creating a conducive environment for prosperity and well-being. Both countries face numerous shared challenges, including the threat of terrorism and the economic and social challenges imposed by the turbulent regional reality.