What's happened
Egypt and Turkey are enhancing their bilateral relations following a significant meeting between Presidents Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The leaders aim to boost trade to $15 billion and address regional issues, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the political crisis in Libya. This marks a thaw in relations after years of tension.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the recent summit between el-Sisi and Erdogan resulted in over 30 memorandums of understanding, highlighting their mutual interest in economic cooperation and regional stability. Al Jazeera noted that this meeting is a significant step in mending ties that have been strained since 2013, with both leaders expressing a commitment to addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Independent emphasized the importance of this diplomatic thaw, particularly in light of the ongoing conflicts in the region and the need for a united front on issues like Libya.
How we got here
Relations between Egypt and Turkey soured after the 2013 military coup in Egypt, which ousted President Mohamed Morsi, an ally of Erdogan. Recent diplomatic efforts have aimed to mend ties, culminating in a series of agreements signed during el-Sisi's visit to Turkey.
More on these topics
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Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeastern Europe.
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Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a Turkish politician serving as the 12th and current President of Turkey. He previously served as Prime Minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014 and as Mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998.
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Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi is an Egyptian politician who is the sixth and current President of Egypt, former Director of Military Intelligence, former Minister of Defence, and former General.
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Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia by a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula.
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Ankara, historically known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of Turkey. Located in the central part of Anatolia, the city covers an area of 25,706 square kilometres, and has a population of 4.5 million residents in the urban centre, and over 5.6 millio