Egypt and Turkey have been at loggerheads for the reason that Egyptian navy’s 2013 ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi amid mass protest towards his divisive one 12 months of rule. Morsi hailed from the Muslim Brotherhood group, supported by Turkey. Egypt has designated the group a terrorist group.
Cavusoglu met with Egyptian Overseas Minister Sameh Shoukry for talks on “varied elements” of bilateral relations, stated Ahmed Abu Zaid, a spokesman for the Egyptian international ministry.
Shoukry stated the 2 sides have discovered widespread floor to relaunch political and financial relations to achieve “conclusions within the pursuits of the 2 international locations.”
“The talks have been in-depth, clear, and forthright,” he instructed a televised joint information convention. “We actually look ahead. We have a look at the whole lot that may profit the 2 international locations.”
Cavusoglu spoke about making up for time misplaced since ambassador-level relations led to late 2013.
“There’s a large degree of untapped potential however sadly we’ve got misplaced these 9 years and with the intention to shut this nine-year hole we’ve got to work even tougher,” he stated.
The Turkish minister added that ties had been eroded “because of the lack of dialogue and misunderstandings.”
Referring to the appointment of ambassadors, Cavusoglu stated he was sure diplomatic hyperlinks would return to “the best degree attainable.” He additionally steered the potential for an official assembly between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt after Turkey’s Might elections.
Turkey has deserted its important strategy towards the Egyptian chief, who as protection minister led the navy’s overthrow of Morsi in 2013. Erdogan and el-Sissi have been photographed shaking palms in November through the World Cup in Qatar, as a part of concerted efforts to fix ties.
The 2 international locations have collided in different areas, together with Libya, the place they again opposing sides. Such confrontations practically led to a direct conflict between the 2 U.S. allies in 2020 on the peak of an assault on the Libyan capital by east-based commander Khalifa Hifter, who’s backed by Egypt.
Egypt, Greece and another European international locations have been additionally angered by a 2019 deal between Turkey and one in every of Libya’s rival governments that sought to spice up Turkish maritime rights and affect within the japanese Mediterranean. Egypt and Greece responded by signing a separate deal to delineate their maritime boundaries, a deal which Ankara rejected.
Saturday’s high-level go to was the primary to Cairo by a Turkish chief diplomat since former Overseas Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s official go to to the Egyptian capital in 2012 to attend a Syrian opposition convention held by the Arab League.
Shoukry and Cavusoglu met final month when the Egyptian international minister visited quake-hit Turkey and Syria to point out solidarity with the 2 nations.
Related Press author Andrew Wilks contributed from Ankara, Turkey.