Turkey has committed to supplying Egypt with combat drones, a move announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, signaling a significant step towards mending ties between the two nations after a decade-long rift.
Fidan revealed the agreement during an interview with A Haber, a private television network, highlighting the importance of normalized relations for Egypt’s access to advanced technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles.
The disclosure comes just ahead of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s anticipated visit to Egypt, the first since 2012, slated for February 14.
Erdogan plans to meet with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to discuss a range of bilateral and regional matters, encompassing trade, energy, and security, as reported by the Turkish news agency Anka.
Erdogan’s trip marks a milestone in the restored diplomatic engagement between Ankara and Cairo, which saw the reinstatement of ambassadors last summer after years of tension following the 2013 removal of Egypt’s then-President Mohamed Morsy, associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The thaw in relations gained momentum in November 2022 when El-Sisi and Erdogan briefly convened on the margins of the World Cup in Qatar, committing to bolster ties and acknowledging their countries’ deep historical connections.
The diplomatic upgrade to the ambassadorial level was officially announced in July 2023, further solidified by a significant meeting between the two leaders in New Delhi during the 18th G20 Summit in September, their first extensive dialogue since the renewal of diplomatic ties.
Fidan, who visited Egypt in October for talks with El-Sisi and his counterpart Sameh Shoukry, underscored the necessity of robust relations with Egypt to ensure security in the Mediterranean.
During his visit, he also expressed Turkey’s opposition to any forced relocation of Palestinian people from Gaza to Egypt, emphasizing Turkey’s stance on regional stability and humanitarian issues.
