Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi received his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Cairo on Wednesday, where the two leaders co-chaired the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between Egypt and Türkiye, signing a joint statement and a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding spanning defence, trade and investment, health, agriculture and other fields.
Presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy said Al-Sisi and Erdogan held a closed-door meeting ahead of the council session, during which they reviewed the trajectory of bilateral relations and explored ways to strengthen cooperation, particularly in trade and investment.
The talks also covered key regional issues of mutual concern, including developments in the Gaza Strip and the wider Middle East, as well as the situations in Sudan, Somalia and the Horn of Africa, the spokesman added.
Following the meeting, the two presidents signed the joint declaration issued by the council and witnessed the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding covering military cooperation, trade and investment, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, social protection, youth and sports, plant quarantine and veterinary services.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Al-Sisi said he had held “constructive discussions” with Erdogan focusing on the future of bilateral cooperation. He noted that the visit follows celebrations last year marking the centenary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Türkiye.
Al-Sisi said the visit provided an important opportunity to continue close consultations on bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest, stressing that Egypt and Türkiye share deep-rooted historical ties and longstanding bonds.
He said both countries have, over decades, upheld principles of peace and coexistence, contributing to the strengthening of bilateral relations and the establishment of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. He added that discussions reviewed the positive development of cooperation since the council’s first meeting in Ankara in September 2024, as well as the outcomes of the inaugural meeting of the Joint Planning Group, chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries, held in November 2025.
Al-Sisi stressed the importance of continuing to deepen cooperation in the coming period, directing state institutions in both countries to intensify efforts to achieve this goal.
On economic relations, the president said bilateral trade has reached around $9bn, making Egypt Türkiye’s largest trade partner in Africa, while Türkiye ranks among the top destinations for Egyptian exports.
He said the two leaders agreed to raise trade exchange to $15bn and remove obstacles hindering the achievement of this target, while boosting investments and expanding broader economic cooperation. He expressed hope that the Egyptian-Turkish business forum held on the sidelines of the visit, with strong participation from business leaders and investors, would help advance these objectives.
Turning to regional crises, Al-Sisi said the rapid escalation of conflicts and unprecedented instability in the Middle East underscore that regional security and stability are a shared responsibility requiring closer coordination and deeper cooperation among countries in the region. He stressed that sustainable political solutions must address root causes, support national institutions as pillars of stability, and reject interference in states’ internal affairs.
On Gaza, Al-Sisi said he and Erdogan reviewed recent developments following efforts by Egypt, Türkiye, Qatar and the United States that led to a ceasefire agreement. He emphasised the importance of fully implementing the agreement in all its phases, ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid, and preventing renewed escalation.
Al-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s and Türkiye’s rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land, stressing that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, remains the only path to lasting peace and stability. He also underlined the need to begin early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza and rejected any attempts to undermine the peace framework or violate the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
For his part, Erdogan said he was keen to build on the “brotherly ties” between Türkiye and Egypt to contribute to regional stability. “We are strengthening the legal foundation between Cairo and Ankara,” he said, noting that Egypt is Türkiye’s largest trade partner in Africa. He added that expanding bilateral relations has also yielded positive results for the tourism sector.
On the Palestinian issue, Erdogan said the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza continues despite the ceasefire, expressing Türkiye’s rejection of Israeli violations of the agreement. He thanked Egyptian authorities for facilitating the delivery of Turkish humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Erdogan also said Türkiye does not recognise the Israeli decision related to what is known as “Somaliland” and stressed that achieving stability and sustainable peace in Libya is a shared objective for both Egypt and Türkiye.
Al-Sisi said Sudan featured prominently in the talks, with both leaders agreeing on the need for a humanitarian truce leading to a ceasefire and the launch of an inclusive political process, while preserving Sudan’s national institutions. He said Egypt continues diplomatic efforts to safeguard Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The two presidents also discussed Libya, where Al-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the UN-led political process and a Libyan-led solution. He reiterated calls to end divisions within Libya’s executive authority, hold simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections, and ensure the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries to preserve Libya’s sovereignty.
In closing, Al-Sisi said the talks reflected a strong convergence of views between Egypt and Türkiye on many regional and international issues, with both sides agreeing to continue consultation and coordination to deepen cooperation across all fields. He added that the two leaders look forward to holding the third meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Ankara in 2028.
