ANKARA: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrived in Ankara on Wednesday for a high-profile visit aimed at mending and strengthening relations between Egypt and Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greeted Sisi at the Ankara Esenboğa Airport, where the two leaders exchanged handshakes and smiles, according to images released by the Turkish presidency, according to images released by the Turkish presidency.
The diplomatic rift began in 2013 when Egypt’s then-Defense Minister Sisi orchestrated the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi, a political ally of Turkey and a prominent figure within the Muslim Brotherhood. The fallout led to a severing of ties, with Erdogan, who had been a vocal critic of Sisi’s coup, vowing not to engage with the new Egyptian leadership.
However, the relationship began to shift in February, when Erdogan visited Cairo, signaling a thaw in the diplomatic freeze. Both leaders have since expressed a desire to turn over a “new leaf” in their relations. The warming of relations is attributed to a realignment of interests, particularly concerning regional issues such as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Despite the political estrangement, economic ties between Turkey and Egypt have remained robust. Turkey is Egypt’s fifth-largest trading partner, and Egypt stands as Turkey’s largest trading partner in Africa.
Mısır Cumhurbaşkanı Abdülfettah Es-Sisi'yi Resmî Karşılama Töreni https://t.co/FKG4qmfw5B
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) September 4, 2024
During his visit, Sisi is expected to engage in discussions with Erdogan on a range of bilateral issues, including trade, regional security, and economic cooperation.
