Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit to Cairo last week may have been marked most visibly by new trade agreements and the convening of the second Joint Planning Group, but what truly matters is the steady rhythm of coordination and consultation between Cairo and Ankara, seen by observers as a lifeline of dialogue at a time when the region is facing urgent and overlapping crises, writes Doaa El-Bey.
During their meeting, the foreign ministers of Egypt and Turkey stressed their commitment to continued coordination and consultation to further boost the strategic partnership between their two countries and support regional security and stability.
According to Tarek Fahmi, a professor of political science at Cairo University, Egyptian‑Turkish relations can be described as exemplary and marked by frequent and high‑level exchanges that underscore their potential for broader agreements. He told Al‑Ahram Weekly that the strategic dimension of the relationship arguably outweighs the political, reflecting the pressing needs of both sides at this juncture.
He explained that this development was the fruit of the steady improvement of relations over the last three years following a decade of tension from 2013 to 2023. Relations have improved on various levels including the military, intelligence, security, and the economy.
The improvement has been reflected in the agreement on various pressing regional issues such as maintaining the unity of Libya and holding elections that will lead to a central government that can rule the country.
Both countries have rejected any foreign interference in Somalia, and above all they agree on refusing the Israeli practices and violations in Gaza.
“We have even seen a will to agree on issues related to the East Mediterranean area and the possibility of Turkey joining the EastMed Gas Forum,” Fahmi said.
During last week’s meeting Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty described relations with Turkey as a “pillar of stability and cooperation in the region”, saying economic and trade ties between the two countries have gained increasing impetus, with bilateral trade currently standing at $9 billion.
“We look forward to reaching $15 billion,” he said, adding that his talks with his Turkish counterpart on bilateral cooperation had been fruitful.
Regarding the defence agreement recently signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, Abdelatty said Egypt is conducting in-depth assessments of its various aspects before deciding whether to join or not.
“Defence agreements require careful study before taking any position on them,” Abdelatty said at a joint press conference held after his meeting with Fidan in the northwestern coastal city of Alamein.
Bilateral relations are built on reciprocity and mutual interests in various fields, noted Fahmi, adding that “this has been reflected in the frequent visits that ended with Fidan’s recent visit and his meeting with top Egyptian officials. Both Cairo and Ankara have a vision of their relations on the bilateral as well as the regional levels,” he said.
Regional developments featured highly in the talks as both Abdelatty and Fidan highlighted the importance of addressing regional disputes through dialogue and diplomacy and strengthening cooperation on the bilateral and multilateral levels.
Gaza was a major issue on the agenda. Both officials agreed that “more serious measures” need to be taken with regards to the situation.
Abdelatty said they had reiterated their rejection and condemnation of Israeli violations against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. He underlined the two countries’ categorical rejection of any encroachment on the rights of the Palestinian people.
Fidan criticised the Israeli leadership, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration of relentlessly adopting policies that violate human dignity and provoke the international community.
“This issue is no longer just a problem concerning Gaza, the Middle East, or the region; it has transformed into a security issue that raises concerns for the entire international community, driven by the provocative policies of Netanyahu and his government,” he said.
He added that he had discussed with Abdelatty the need for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and enforcing compliance with the terms of the Gaza peace plan.
Abdelatty and Fidan’s talks also addressed developments in Syria, highlighting the importance of preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the urgent need to intensify Egyptian-Turkish cooperation to unify Libyan institutions and support efforts to reach a Libyan-led solution that will prepare the ground for simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections.
The calls for prioritising political solutions and supporting Sudan’s national institutions to restore security and stability and preserving Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity were also re-emphasised during the two officials’ meeting.
Abdelatty also raised the issue of water security during the talks, describing it as an “existential issue” for Egypt.
Finding solutions concerning the US-Iranian deadlock and the fate of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on global trade was another pressing issue tackled by Abdelatty and Fidan.
Both officials highlighted the importance of continuing close coordination, as well as within the regional quartet comprising Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, to support efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in the region.
Fidan also met Major General Hassan Rashad, head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy.
During the visit, Abdelatty and Fidan co-chaired the second meeting of the Turkey-Egypt Joint Planning Group, which supervises preparations for meetings of the two countries’ High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
During the meeting, both sides expressed their shared confidence in continuing cooperation through concerted efforts in the two countries and the development of clear action plans that would translate the political will of both sides into concrete steps, according to Abdelatty.
They also discussed preparations for the council’s third meeting, planned to be held in Turkey in 2028.
The Egypt- Turkey Joint Planning Group was established under a joint declaration signed in February 2024 on the establishment of the Strategic Cooperation Council.
Co-chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries, the group is tasked with preparing meetings of the Strategic Cooperation Council and strengthening coordination across areas of bilateral cooperation.
The group held its first meeting in Turkey in November 2025.
The move of the Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah to the Turkish club Trabzonspor earlier this month is another indication of the positive effect of soft power in boosting bilateral ties.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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