Egypt and Turkey spent the weekend in El Alamein mapping out a shared push for peace in Gaza — and a major boost in economic ties — as their leaders marked a sharp turn in relations that were once ice-cold.
Talks Framed as a “Qualitative Leap”
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty for wide-ranging discussions. Officials from both sides described the mood as a “qualitative leap” in bilateral ties, signalling a willingness to coordinate on both urgent regional crises and long-term cooperation.
The Gaza war topped the list. Cairo and Ankara jointly rejected any reoccupation of the territory, demanded an immediate ceasefire, and insisted on unimpeded humanitarian aid deliveries. Both governments also voiced strong opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians.
One sentence from Abdel Aty cut through the diplomatic phrasing: forced displacement is “a red line.”
Gaza, Libya, Syria — and Beyond
The talks weren’t limited to Gaza. The ministers swapped views on conflicts in Libya, Syria, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa. But it was Gaza that drew the most pointed language. Abdel Aty accused Israel of “systematic starvation and genocide,” warning such actions could stoke extremism across the region.
Fidan echoed the sentiment, saying “any attempt to displace Palestinians is doomed to fail,” and directly accusing Israel of blocking ceasefire efforts while committing massacres in the enclave.
Trade Ambitions in Tandem with Diplomacy
Even amid the heavy political agenda, economics took centre stage. Egypt and Turkey reaffirmed their aim to double trade to USD 15 billion, expand Turkish investment, and fully reactivate their High Strategic Council. The council, symbolic in itself, marks 100 years of diplomatic relations this year.
Officials believe trade growth could be driven by joint projects in energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure. It’s also a calculated signal that political thawing is being matched with tangible economic commitments.
A Relationship Back from the Brink
Only three years ago, Egypt and Turkey were in a political freeze, divided over regional rivalries and ideological disputes. Now, the tone is markedly different. Ankara’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to return to Egypt in 2026 for the council’s second session, an event both sides are framing as a capstone in their reconciliation.
In the meantime, the weekend’s El Alamein meeting served a dual purpose: presenting a united diplomatic front on Gaza, and showing that their warming ties have practical goals far beyond symbolic gestures.
