Abdel Rahman Salah El-Din told the Middle East News Agency (MENA) on Wednesday that the visit reflects a shared assessment in Cairo and Ankara of the need for closer cooperation as Israel seeks to reshape the regional order after its war on Gaza. Erdogan’s trip is his third visit to Egypt in two years, underscoring a sustained thaw in relations after years of estrangement.
Salah El-Din said the visit comes at a critical moment, with both countries working to contain regional escalation, including efforts to de-escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran and push both sides back toward negotiations.
He said Egypt and Türkiye share positions on several regional files, including opposition to plans that would fragment Middle Eastern states along ethnic or sectarian lines and support for preserving the stability of the region’s central states.
On Palestine, Salah El-Din said Cairo and Ankara agree that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to ending the conflict, stressing the need for political and geographical continuity between Gaza and the occupied West Bank, an end to Israeli occupation, and the Palestinians’ right to choose their leadership.
He noted that both Egypt and Türkiye maintain relations with different Palestinian factions, allowing for coordination on ceasefire efforts. He added that Egypt had supported Turkish mediation efforts in Gaza ceasefire talks despite Israeli objections, an approach he said was understood by Washington, given Egypt’s role.
Salah El-Din said the two countries are also aligned on Syria, rejecting any attempts to divide the country or impose spheres of influence, and stressing the importance of preserving Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On Libya, he said Cairo and Ankara support the formation of a unified government capable of holding comprehensive elections and exercising authority nationwide. He pointed to the return of Egyptian and Turkish companies to projects in both eastern and western Libya as evidence of growing convergence.
He added that Egypt and Türkiye share positions on Sudan’s unity, oppose efforts to divide the country, and coordinate with Saudi Arabia on preserving Yemen’s territorial integrity. He also cited opposition to fragmentation scenarios in Somalia.
Economically, Salah El-Din said bilateral trade has grown from about $5 billion in 2013 to nearly $9 billion, with a target of reaching $15 billion under the framework of the Strategic Cooperation Council. Turkish investments in Egypt have reached roughly $3 billion, with around 200 Turkish companies operating in the country, he said.
He added that cooperation between the two countries extends to vocational training, waste recycling, advanced industries, and military coordination.
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