Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt and Turkey elevate ties to comprehensive strategic partnership
Egypt and Turkey have strengthened their bilateral ties during the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, held in Cairo on February 4, 2026, under the co-chairmanship of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The two leaders signed a comprehensive joint declaration and multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs) spanning key sectors, including defense, investment, trade, agriculture, health, youth and sports, and social protection. The meeting built on the positive momentum since the council’s inaugural session in Ankara in September 2024, reflecting the deep historical and fraternal bonds between the two nations and their shared commitment to mutual respect and benefit.
Economic and Trade Advancements
The declaration highlighted significant growth in bilateral trade, which has approached approximately $9 billion. Both sides reaffirmed their joint target of elevating trade volume to $15 billion by 2028 through enhanced economic and commercial relations.
They emphasized the importance of mutual investments, encouraging business delegations, exhibitions, and investment forums to foster balanced, sustainable partnerships. Egypt welcomed the establishment of a national committee to promote and monitor Turkish investments, aimed at streamlining procedures.
The countries committed to deepening industrial cooperation and joint manufacturing in priority sectors, facilitating technology transfer, innovation, and capacity building. Particular focus was placed on green transformation initiatives, including energy efficiency, renewables, low-carbon industries, waste management, and hydrogen technologies.
Additional agreements targeted enhanced collaboration in electricity and renewable energy (building on a 2024 MoU), hydrocarbons and mining (per a 2025 MoU), customs procedures, financial dialogue, civil aviation, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, agriculture (including sanitary and phytosanitary measures), labor mobility, cultural heritage, tourism, and higher education.
Both parties expressed intent to expand joint projects in Africa, particularly in construction, infrastructure, and urban development.
Regional and International Issues
The declaration addressed several pressing regional matters:
• On Libya, the leaders supported a Libyan-led political process under UN facilitation to preserve the country’s security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
• Regarding Palestine and Gaza, Egypt and Turkey endorsed President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to end the war in Gaza, including Israel’s full withdrawal. They highlighted the centrality of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025) in guiding the transitional phase until the Palestinian Authority completes required reforms and resumes administration of Gaza. The two nations stressed the need to maintain Palestinian territorial integrity, ensure unhindered and sustainable humanitarian aid delivery (including opening the Rafah crossing in both directions), and launch comprehensive early recovery and reconstruction efforts without discrimination. They reiterated support for an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, condemned Israeli occupation practices, violations of international law, and obstacles to UNRWA operations, and called for full respect of relevant UN resolutions and ICJ advisory opinions.
• On Syria, they reaffirmed commitment to Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, urging reconstruction, state institution strengthening, and an inclusive, Syrian-owned political process. They condemned terrorism, foreign terrorist fighters, and ongoing Israeli violations of Syrian sovereignty and the 1974 disengagement agreement.
• For Lebanon, the countries backed national institutions, state authority, and monopoly on arms, while condemning Israeli attacks and violations, calling for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
• They expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Sudan, advocating a Sudanese-led peaceful resolution, ceasefire, national dialogue, and humanitarian access, while rejecting parallel governance structures.
• Additional positions included addressing terrorism in the Sahel, supporting Somalia’s unity and stability, securing Red Sea navigation, and cooperating on Nile water sustainability amid climate challenges.
The leaders agreed to maintain close coordination in international and regional organizations and scheduled the next council meeting for 2028 in Ankara.
The joint declaration was signed in Cairo on February 4, 2026, by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the Republic of Türkiye. This development marks a further step in elevating Egypt-Turkey relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with potential implications for regional stability and economic integration in the Middle East and Africa.