Egypt’s Sisi makes historic visit to Turkey after 12 years amid warming relations

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing conflict in Gaza and explore opportunities for increased cooperation in various fields, according to Reuters.

“We will enhance our multifaceted relations in a win-win manner,” Erdogan stated during a press conference.

During the visit, ministers from both countries signed 18 memoranda of understanding covering areas such as energy, defense, tourism, health, agriculture, finance, culture, education, and transportation, according to Reuters.

This meeting marks President Sisi's first official trip to Turkey in 12 years, representing a significant milestone in the restoration of bilateral ties.

Relations between Egypt and Turkey deteriorated in 2013 when Sisi led a coup against the democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi, an ally of Turkey's government. However, efforts to rebuild relations began in 2020, with Erdogan reaching out to regional rivals, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, to ease tensions.

In February, Erdogan visited Cairo for the first time since 2012, expressing a commitment to increase bilateral trade from $10 billion to $15 billion in the short term, according to Reuters.