Egyptian and Turkish leaders discuss bilateral ties and regional issues, focusing on Gaza

Egypt and Turkey seal strategic reset in Cairo, set $15B trade target and align on Gaza cease-fire

CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks in Cairo on Wednesday, co-chairing a high-level council that produced new cooperation agreements and a shared call to advance a Gaza cease-fire and reconstruction effort.

Following their meeting, the leaders convened the second session of the Egypt–Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and oversaw the signing of agreements across defense, investment, trade, energy and tourism, the Egyptian presidency said. The two sides set a target to expand bilateral trade from nearly $9 billion to $15 billion by 2028.

On the Gaza Strip, Egypt and Turkey reaffirmed support for a cease-fire plan and urged an immediate, full Israeli withdrawal. They pressed for sustained humanitarian access, the reopening of the Rafah crossing in both directions, and a comprehensive reconstruction process to stabilize the enclave after months of war.

The leaders also reiterated the need to launch a political process to establish an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital — a position they framed as essential to a durable peace and regional stability.

Beyond Gaza, the discussions ranged across a string of regional flashpoints. Cairo and Ankara reviewed developments in Sudan, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa, with both sides advocating political solutions, respect for sovereignty and de-escalation. They underscored the importance of securing maritime navigation in the Red Sea and rejected any attempts to pursue military presence on its shores in contradiction to international law.

The session marked a coordinated push by two of the region’s most influential players to deepen economic ties while aligning on crisis management from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Officials highlighted trade and energy as immediate arenas for cooperation, while the defense and tourism tracks signaled an effort to broaden the relationship into security and people-to-people links.

The economic target — a roughly two-thirds increase in trade by 2028 — sets a clear benchmark for both governments as they move to translate diplomatic engagement into measurable gains. The focus on energy and logistics dovetails with Egypt’s role as a transit hub and Turkey’s position linking European and Middle Eastern markets.

On Gaza, the joint emphasis on humanitarian corridors and reconstruction, alongside a political horizon, reflects a convergence on short-term relief and longer-term statehood parameters. Reopening Rafah — a key conduit for aid and movement — and ensuring uninterrupted access would be pivotal steps if implemented, both governments signaled.

Regional files dominated by conflict and state fragility also featured prominently. In Sudan and Libya, where rival factions have dragged countries into prolonged violence, Egypt and Turkey voiced support for political tracks that preserve territorial integrity. In the Horn of Africa, where security dynamics intersect with Red Sea shipping lanes, their warning against unauthorized military entrenchment echoed wider concerns about escalation risks and freedom of navigation.

While detailed terms of the newly signed agreements were not disclosed, the council’s agenda and the trade target suggest a phased approach that couples sectoral deals with ongoing political coordination. Both sides cast the Cairo talks as a framework to manage immediate crises and to build longer-term economic interdependence.

Key takeaways:

• Egypt and Turkey co-chaired a high-level council in Cairo and signed cooperation agreements in defense, investment, trade, energy and tourism.
• Bilateral trade is targeted to rise from nearly $9 billion to $15 billion by 2028.
• On Gaza, the leaders backed a cease-fire, called for full Israeli withdrawal, sustained humanitarian access, reopening Rafah in both directions and comprehensive reconstruction.
• They endorsed a political process toward a Palestinian state on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital.
• Talks covered Sudan, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Somalia and the Horn of Africa, with emphasis on political solutions and Red Sea maritime security.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.