Sisi makes first presidential visit to Turkiye in 12 years

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed the Gaza war and ways to further repair the long-frozen ties between the regional powers during talks in Ankara, in the first such presidential visit in 12 years.
Relations between Ankara and Cairo collapsed in 2013.
Ties between the two countries began thawing in 2020 when Ankara launched a diplomatic drive to ease tensions with its estranged regional rivals.
Last year, Ankara and Cairo mutually reappointed ambassadors and Turkiye said it would also provide Cairo with armed drones. Erdogan travelled to Cairo in February for his first trip to Egypt since 2012. He met al-Sisi at Ankara airport yesterday and the two then travelled in the same car to the presidential palace for around two hours of talks.
“With a win-win mindset, we will carry our multi-dimensional ties forward,” Erdogan said, adding Ankara particularly wanted to deepen ties with Egypt on natural gas and nuclear energy.
Ministers from the two countries signed 18 memorandum of understanding on co-operation in energy, defence, tourism, health, agriculture, finance, culture, education, and transport.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Erdogan reiterated that Turkiye and Egypt wanted to boost annual trade by $5bn to $15bn in the next five years.
He added that Ankara and Cairo shared a “common stance” on the Palestinian cause, while al-Sisi said they were both calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to violence in the West Bank.
Turkiye, which has condemned Israel for its war against Hamas in Gaza, has sent thousands of tonnes of aid to Egypt for Palestinians and praised Cairo’s humanitarian efforts and role as negotiator in the talks on a ceasefire and hostage deal.