Türkiye and Egypt Strengthen Ties, Call for Immediate Gaza Ceasefire

Ankara, The Gulf Observer: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reaffirmed their shared stance on the Palestinian issue, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza. The two leaders made this declaration during a joint news conference in Ankara on Wednesday, marking a significant step in their countries’ efforts to bolster regional peace and stability.

“Türkiye and Egypt’s contributions to regional peace and stability are of vital importance,” President Erdogan emphasized, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the two nations. This visit marks President Sisi’s first official trip to Türkiye since he assumed office in 2014, following an invitation from President Erdogan.

During the visit, the leaders co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between Türkiye and Egypt, where they signed 17 agreements across various sectors, including industry, trade, defense, healthcare, environment, and energy. President Erdogan underscored the commitment to advancing cooperation in all areas, stressing that the relationship between the two nations would grow with a “win-win approach.”

President Sisi echoed these sentiments, expressing that his visit “paves the way for a new phase in economic and trade relations.” He reiterated that both Türkiye and Egypt are united in their firm position on the necessity of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and ending Israeli aggression in the West Bank.

The meeting also underscored the deepening of bilateral ties as part of the normalization process that began three years ago. Earlier this year, in February, President Erdogan visited Egypt, where he and President Sisi signed several agreements in tourism, culture, and education.

Trade relations have been a cornerstone of cooperation between Türkiye and Egypt, with both countries now aiming to increase their bilateral trade volume by at least 50 percent, from $10 billion to $15 billion. Türkiye has consistently ranked among Egypt’s top five trading partners over the past decade.

The relationship between Türkiye and Egypt is rooted in centuries of shared history and strong ties of friendship. Next year will mark 100 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations, symbolizing a long-standing partnership that continues to evolve in the pursuit of mutual interests and regional stability.