CAIRO – 13 February 2024: While the Middle East is going through one of the most ‘sensitive and tense times’, Egyptian-Turkish relations are seeming to witness a new breakthrough, that could be called as a ‘new era’ of developing more understanding relations on the diplomatic level between the two countries.
Upon President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s invitation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to arrive, Wednesday in Cairo in a visit.
According to the Türkiye’s Communications Directorate statement issued on Sunday, both leaders will discuss “steps that can be taken to improve the Turkey-Egypt relations and revitalize high-level bilateral cooperation mechanisms,” the statement said.
They will also discuss the bilateral relations and other regional and international issues of mutual concern, “particularly the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories,” the statement added.
Exploratory discussions
However, to reach this point, the “exploratory discussions” started between the country three years ago in 2021. That year [2021] represented the real starting point for restoring Turkish-Egyptian relations.
The so called “exploratory discussions” were hosted in Ankara, with a main goal of fining ways to build bridges of trust between the two countries, and explore the concerns of each party.
The sessions started at May and then were held again later in September of the same year. And despite some considered that Egypt and Turkey were taking small or slow steps with regard of developing relations; both parties preferred to take their time exploring the potentials and concerns which resulted eventually in the current results.
By the end of the second round of discussions that were hold in September, some results were reached by both countries that both sides need to see certain goals being achieved in order to allow the relations to develop more based on mutual trust.
Among the things that Egypt demanded from Turkey were: ‘re-opening the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood group file and discuss the situation of some of its wanted members who took refuge in Turkey. Egypt also discussed Turkey’s presence in Libya, and other Eastern Mediterranean cases.
Although these discussions did not yield noticeable results in the Egyptian-Turkish relations, but it represented a positive indicator of ‘melting the ice between the two parties’, and led to more discussions in the subsequent period.
During the following year, [2022], other developments started to take place including a circulated rumors by Turkish media report that diplomatic relations between the two countries are to upgrade by appointing new ambassador in Cairo.
Normalization steps
However, shortly later, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu denied these reports, stressing that this decision has not been taken yet, but Turkey “will soon take steps regarding the normalization of relations with Egypt during the coming period.”
Also, in April of the same year, one of the most pro-Muslim brotherhood satellite channels called ‘Mekameleen TV’ announced the closure of all its headquarters inside Turkey and the transfer of all its work outside the country.
Turkey, on the other hand announced in March 2021 a decision to limit the coverage of Egyptian channels broadcasting from its lands to be specialized only in social and cultural affairs.
This decision represented a big development in relations based on the past discussions of the two countries.
In May 2022, press reports circulated about the existence of security and intelligence coordination between the two countries to consider handing over some leaders of the Brotherhood to Egypt, explaining that Ankara has a ‘strong desire’ in accelerating the pace of rapprochement with Cairo, even if it comes to handing over some leaders from the Muslim Brotherhood group.
Presential statements
In August 2022, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement after returning from Ukraine, about relations with Egypt, stressing that the Egyptian people are a ‘brotherly people’ and we cannot be in any disagreement with them, but the environment should always be peaceful, and that ‘there will always be an opportunity for dialogue’.
The Turkish President stated at the time that between the two countries ‘were not in desired place yet’, but both countries continue to work and ‘we hope that other steps will be taken in the best ways towards higher levels.’
In other big breakthrough in relations, on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar on November 20, 2022, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi shake hands which represented a symbol for the developing relations.
2023 Earthquake
In February 2023, following the earthquake that struck southern Turkey, the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry arrived to the city of Adana on a visit to show solidarity with the Turkish people after earthquake.
During the meeting, Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry stressed the importance of restoring relations between Egypt and Turkey to its previous level and to proceed with it in accordance with the common interests of the two countries.
The Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said that the development of relations between Ankara and Cairo in their interests and reflect positively on the stability and prosperity of the region.
Later, in July of the same year, both countries exchanged appointing ambassadors in a ‘historical’ move between the two countries’ diplomatic relations.
Mutual visits, meetings
The Mutual high-ranking visits then started to take place between the two countries. In March 2023, the Egyptian Foreign Minister received his Turkish counterpart in Cairo, where they discussed normalizing relations, along with the developments in the region.
Then, In April 2023, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited Ankara, as he discussed with his counterpart a framework and a specific time frame to be established regarding improving the level of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
FM Shoukry, was also appointed by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to participate in the inauguration ceremony of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after winning the elections for a new presidential term.
In September 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Egyptian President Abdel El-Fattah El-Sisi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in the Indian capital New Delhi.
During the meeting, the two presidents stressed the importance of working to advance the course of relations between the two countries, and building on the tangible progress towards resuming various bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
In mid-October 2023, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Egypt for the first time since his appointment to his new position, in response to the invitation of his counterpart, Sameh Shoukry. The two sides discussed all aspects of relations between Turkey and Egypt and exchanged views on regional developments.
The recent developments in the Gaza Strip were announced to capture a large part of the discussions between the two officials.
In November 2023, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Riyadh on the sidelines of the Arab Islamic Summit. The meeting dealt with follow-up coordination and consultation regarding developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip, where efforts were reviewed to contain the crisis and its humanitarian repercussions.
Thus, the year 2023 represented a completely new change in the history of Egyptian-Turkish relations, in particular It included many aspects, the most important of which are: Exchange of ambassadors and many mutual visits.
Also, the year included several positive indicators for more cooperation and convergence of visions.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit Egypt on February 14, within the framework of strengthening relations between the two countries, making the visit at the presidential level between the two countries after cutting ties in 2013.
Be Social
Comments
Leave a Comment