Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Ankara. Photo: Egyptian Foreign Ministry
Senior officials from both countries’ ministries attended the meeting, which aims to expand cooperation in trade, energy, investment, and regional security ahead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s planned visit to Cairo in 2026 for the second session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
Abdelatty said the talks translate the directives of Presidents Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Erdoğan into “practical steps” that would elevate bilateral relations to a full strategic partnership. He added that discussions covered a wide range of fields, including economy, transport, education, tourism, and information technology.
He noted that the reciprocal presidential visits in 2024 — Erdoğan's to Cairo in February and El-Sisi's to Ankara in September — had laid the foundation for “a new phase of cooperation” following the signing of 15 bilateral agreements.
Abdelatty described his current visit—his third this year—as evidence of the “growing momentum” in bilateral relations and reiterated Cairo’s commitment to strengthening ties with Ankara across multiple fields.
Economic cooperation and centenary of ties
In separate talks, Abdelatty and Fidan discussed ways to boost economic and investment cooperation, with the Egyptian foreign minister expressing hope to raise trade between the two countries to $15 billion within five years.
The ministers also explored collaboration in renewable energy, carbon reduction, and mineral exploration, while marking 100 years of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Turkey, a milestone Abdelatty commemorated by presenting a museum-scale replica of the statue of Amenhotep III to be displayed in Ankara.
Abdelatty also conveyed condolences over the victims of a recent Turkish military plane crash, reaffirming Egypt’s solidarity with Turkey.
Gaza and regional crises
Talks also addressed regional developments, particularly the Israeli war on Gaza. Both ministers underscored the need to build on the Sharm El-Sheikh peace agreement and to ensure sustained humanitarian access to the besieged enclave.
They discussed preparations for the International Conference on Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza, to be held in Cairo, and welcomed active Turkish participation.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, rejecting any unilateral measures that alter the status of Palestinian territories.
Abdelatty called for stronger coordination to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and advance regional peace efforts.
Sudan, Libya, Syria, and Africa
The two ministers also reviewed developments in Sudan, where Abdelatty condemned atrocities in El-Fasher and urged a comprehensive ceasefire and humanitarian access to conflict zones.
On Libya, he reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the United Nations (UN)-led roadmap calling for simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections, and the withdrawal of all foreign fighters and mercenaries.
Addressing Syria, Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s stance on preserving the country’s territorial integrity and called for the resumption of a political process that reflects the aspirations of the Syrian people.
Talks also touched on Africa, where Abdelatty highlighted the importance of supporting stability in the Horn of Africa and respecting Somalia’s sovereignty. Both ministers agreed to enhance Egyptian–Turkish cooperation on development projects across the continent, particularly in infrastructure, agriculture, and energy.
Earlier on Wednesday, Abdelatty met with President Erdoğan in Ankara and delivered a written message from President El-Sisi on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing coordination on regional issues.
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