Turkish-Egyptian Relations: A Path to Economic Cooperation
Egypt and Turkey are reconciling after a decade of strained relations. Despite their ideological differences, both nations are focusing on common ground through economic collaboration. Regional crises, currency challenges, and mutual interests in energy, trade, and defense cooperation have led to a thaw in their relationship.
Tensions Rooted in Political Differences
Tension between Egypt and Turkey began in 2013 after the removal of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, who shared ideological ties with Turkey’s ruling party. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opposed Morsi’s ousting by military leader Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, frequently condemning the new Egyptian government. This led to years of political tension between the two countries, with Erdogan repeatedly criticizing Egypt’s leadership. Despite Erdogan’s hostility, Egypt avoided escalating the situation.
Turkey’s recent foreign policy shift aimed at repairing ties with several countries has helped to defuse tensions. Ankara stopped supporting anti-Sissi campaigns by the Muslim Brotherhood and deported several of its members, signaling a desire for reconciliation with Egypt.
Economic Cooperation as the Primary Focus
Economic collaboration is driving this renewed engagement. Both nations face significant challenges, and economic cooperation provides a practical solution. El-Sissi’s recent visit to Ankara with a delegation of officials and businesspeople marked a significant milestone in this process. They signed agreements in various sectors, including energy, tourism, and health, aiming to increase trade volume from $6.1 billion to $15 billion.
Turkey and Egypt also discussed expanding their free trade agreement, developing joint defense projects, and restarting maritime services between their key ports. By focusing on mutual economic interests, both nations seek to mitigate the challenges posed by their strained political history.
The Role of BRICS in Strengthening Economic Ties
Egypt’s membership in the BRICS alliance offers new opportunities for economic collaboration with Turkey. BRICS membership gives Egypt access to major economies like China, India, and Russia. Turkey, located strategically between Europe and Asia, views its potential BRICS membership as an important economic step.
This shared interest in the BRICS framework offers a way for both nations to strengthen their economies while setting aside political disputes. By focusing on energy and renewable resources, Egypt and Turkey can leverage their BRICS involvement to improve economic cooperation.
Defense and Strategic Cooperation
Defense collaboration also plays a key role in the Turkish-Egyptian rapprochement. Egypt is interested in acquiring Turkish drones and advancing joint military projects. These defense initiatives align with Egypt’s efforts to modernize its military and strengthen regional stability.
In addition to defense, both countries are working to improve maritime transport and energy cooperation. They plan to restart services between the ports of Mersin and Alexandria and increase their collaboration on energy projects. These initiatives will help build a long-term strategic partnership between the two nations.
Reconciliation Driven by Economic Necessity
Egypt and Turkey are rebuilding their relationship after years of hostility, driven primarily by shared economic interests. Both nations are focusing on trade, energy, and defense collaboration to overcome their political differences. Their desire to achieve economic stability through platforms like BRICS shows that despite lingering issues, economic collaboration offers the clearest path to progress.
