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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
President Erdoğan’s Visit to Egypt (2026) is an official visit by the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to Cairo at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on 4 February 2026.
The President of the Republic of Türkiye’s Communication Directorate, Burhanettin Duran, announced that President Erdoğan would visit Saudi Arabia on 3 February 2026 and Egypt on 4 February 2026. Duran stated that Erdoğan would travel to Cairo at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and that the two leaders would co-chair the second meeting of the Türkiye–Egypt High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. It was also indicated that bilateral issues on the agenda would be discussed and that the two sides would exchange views on regional and international matters, with Palestine at the forefront. Additionally, President Erdoğan is scheduled to attend the Türkiye–Egypt Business Forum.
Egypt is one of Türkiye’s largest trading partners in Africa. In 2024, bilateral trade volume reached $8.8 billion, with Türkiye’s exports amounting to $4.2 billion and imports totaling $4.6 billion. Presidents Erdoğan and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have set a target to increase bilateral trade volume to $15 billion by 2028. To achieve this goal, relevant ministries are conducting joint efforts to improve the investment climate.
Türkiye and Egypt have adopted a common stance on ending Israel’s two-year assault on the Gaza Strip, ensuring a lasting ceasefire, and supporting Gaza’s reconstruction. In October 2025, during the “Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace” held in Egypt and attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, the two leaders signed a Declaration of Intent. In the Gaza Executive Council, established to implement the second phase of the ceasefire and support governance processes, Türkiye was represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egypt by Intelligence Chief Hasan Reşad.
In a statement on 29 January 2026, Hakan Fidan noted that Türkiye is a core member of the mediation group alongside Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, and that Türkiye is prepared to provide a military contingent to the International Stability Force in Gaza if needed.
With extensive coastlines along the Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye and Egypt have potential for joint projects in hydrocarbon exploration and production. Mohamed Fouad, General Secretary of the Egyptian Association for Gas and Energy, stated in a 2025 declaration: “Egypt is ready to be a strong and reliable partner in Türkiye’s journey to become an energy hub.” Government and private sector contacts are being maintained through chambers of commerce and embassies to strengthen energy ties between the two countries.
Discussions are ongoing between the two countries to relaunch Ro-Ro ferry services, suspended since 2015. In December 2025, during his visit to Cairo, Türkiye’s Minister of Trade, Ömer Bolat, met with Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Hassan el-Hatip, and they reached an agreement on reviving the Ro-Ro route. The meeting also established mutual understanding on diversifying cooperation in tourism, agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals, automotive, healthcare, digital technologies, and construction sectors.
Military relations between the two countries have recently been revitalized. Egyptian Chief of Staff Ahmed Fethi Halife met during his visit to Türkiye in May 2025 with Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff General Metin Gürak. Turkish defense industry company HAVELSAN introduced its unmanned ground vehicles, AKREP and HAMZA-1, developed with local Egyptian partners, at the EDEX 2025 Egypt Defense Exhibition.
In addition, in September 2025, the two navies held for the first time in 13 years the “Türkiye–Egypt Friendship Sea 2025 Exercise”. The exercise aimed to enhance interoperability between naval forces and strengthen military cooperation.
President Erdoğan arrived in Cairo aboard the special aircraft “TUR” and was received in an official ceremony at Al-Ittihadiya Palace. At the palace entrance, President Sisi greeted Erdoğan as he stepped out of his vehicle. After the two leaders took their positions on the ceremonial ground, a 21-gun salute was fired and the national anthems of both countries were played.
Following the ceremony, the two leaders shook hands and posed for the press, then proceeded to a one-on-one meeting. This was followed by a meeting between delegations. The visit included plans for an agreement signing ceremony and statements by the two leaders.
Accompanying President Erdoğan on the visit were his wife Emine Erdoğan, along with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu, President of the Communication Directorate Burhanettin Duran, and Presidential Advisor Akif Çağatay Kılıç.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi proceeded to a one-on-one meeting after the official welcome ceremony in Cairo. Following this, a meeting between delegations was held. After these consultations, an agreement signing ceremony took place between the two countries.
Presidents Erdoğan and Sisi signed the Joint Declaration of the Second Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between the Republic of Türkiye and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Following the talks, the following official documents were signed between Türkiye and Egypt:
Following the one-on-one and delegation-level meetings and the agreement signing ceremony, President Erdoğan addressed the joint press conference held with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
President Erdoğan expressed great satisfaction at being in Cairo for the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, whose first meeting was held in Ankara in September 2024.
“Thanking the Egyptian people for their warm hospitality and the cordial reception extended to me and my delegation by President Sisi,” Erdoğan said, “Our fraternal bonds, forged over a thousand years of shared history, are not only meant to enhance the welfare of our peoples but also to contribute to the stability of Palestine and our region. We are pleased to observe that our relations have advanced in all areas thanks to the common vision we have established with President Sisi.” Erdoğan recalled that approximately 16 months had passed since the first meeting of the Council.
“I have visited Egypt twice during this period through various occasions,” Erdoğan said, “Our foreign ministers have met seven times. When we add other ministers and senior officials, the number of mutual visits approaches 50. Today, with the joint declaration and various documents we have adopted, we are strengthening the foundation of our relations.”
“Egypt continues to be Türkiye’s largest trading partner in Africa. We aim to raise our trade volume, which has hovered between $8 and $9 billion over the past three years, to $15 billion,” Erdoğan said, adding, “We are pleased that Turkish investments in Egypt are approaching $4 billion. Today, during our meeting with business leaders at the Business Forum, we will examine mutual investment and cooperation opportunities. We wish to develop joint projects in energy and transportation. Strengthened Türkiye–Egypt relations have positively impacted tourism: over 500,000 tourists visited our countries mutually last year. We hope this number will double in the coming period. The Egyptian people show great interest in Turkish culture and language. Türkiye does not wish to leave this interest unreciprocated. We consider it important to reopen our institutions’ representations in Egypt, including the Yunus Emre Institute’s Alexandria branch and the offices of TİKA and TRT.”
President Erdoğan noted that Türkiye and Egypt, as neighbors with the longest coastlines in the Eastern Mediterranean, are eager to enhance cooperation in bilateral maritime trade, navigation freedom, and maritime security.
Erdoğan emphasized that the joint steps to be taken will significantly contribute to regional peace as well as to the economic and strategic interests of both countries: “The Palestinian issue forms the core of our common agenda. It is a fact that although a ceasefire has been declared, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues. Over 500 Gazans have lost their lives in Israeli attacks since 11 October. Last week, 30 of our brothers, including children, were martyred. We reject these attacks and violations aimed at sabotaging the Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration. We are working with Egypt to make peace in Gaza possible, and we intend to continue this effort. We will also provide all possible support for the reconstruction of Gaza, devastated by Israeli attacks. On this occasion, I once again thank the Egyptian authorities for their cooperation in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
Erdoğan noted that discussions also addressed regional issues including Libya, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa. “Maintaining national unity in Libya remains a shared objective with Egypt,” Erdoğan said, continuing, “We agree on supporting processes led and owned by the Libyan people. In Sudan, we hope for an immediate ceasefire followed by a sustainable peace. We do not accept Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, which undermines Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Steps regarding the future of Somalia and Somaliland must reflect the will of all Somalilis. A unified and politically intact Syria will be the greatest beneficiary of our entire region. We are supporters of the major transformation in Syria and remain committed to this support. We find Egypt’s statements regarding the preservation of Syria’s unity accurate and supportive. With our neighbor Iran, we believe that external interventions pose significant risks to the entire region. The most appropriate method for resolving issues with Iran, including the nuclear dossier, is through diplomatic channels.”
Erdoğan thanked President Sisi and Egyptian authorities for their hospitality and expressed hope that the decisions made during the meetings would contribute to peace, prosperity, and stability in both countries and the region.
Egyptian President, highlighting cooperation in various fields with Türkiye, said: “Egypt considers Türkiye its foremost partner in Africa. We are working to increase our trade volume of $9 billion to $15 billion; this is our target.” On the situation in the Middle East, Sisi said: “Our region is becoming increasingly prone to crises and upheavals. We must deepen this cooperation to reach sustainable political solutions as soon as possible.” Sisi emphasized the importance of cooperation, recalling that the ceasefire in Gaza was declared thanks to the efforts of Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
Egyptian President stated: “The most important priority now in Gaza is the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid. Maintaining calm is of great importance. A two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state, in line with international and United Nations resolutions, are of utmost importance. All unilateral measures against the Palestinians must end, and holy sites, beginning with Jerusalem, must be protected.”
Sisi noted that he discussed developments in Sudan with President Erdoğan: “It is important to preserve the integrity of Sudan’s state institutions. President Erdoğan continues his diplomatic efforts; preserving Sudan’s unity and viability is essential.” Sisi underscored Egypt’s opposition to the division of Somalia and emphasized the importance of achieving stability in Libya.
On the situation in Syria, Sisi said: “Egypt supports the unity and sovereignty of Syria. Recently, an agreement was signed between the government and the SDG. We hope these agreements and efforts will protect the rights of all segments.” Regarding developments in Iran, Sisi said: “We also discussed developments in Iran. Egypt believes that a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue in Iran is necessary to ensure peace in the country and the region.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said: “We will enhance cooperation between Türkiye and Egypt on regional and international issues of mutual concern. Our third meeting will be held in Ankara. My brother Erdoğan is Egypt’s most honored guest; I pray to God that our relations reach an even higher level and that peace and stability prevail in our region.”
Following the talks, President Erdoğan gifted President Sisi a Togg vehicle in “Anadolu” color. The two leaders took photographs inside the Togg in the garden of Al-Ittihadiya Palace. Subsequently, Sisi personally drove the vehicle with Erdoğan to the El-Massa Hotel, where the closing session of the Türkiye–Egypt Business Forum was held.
The official written statement issued by the Egyptian Presidency stated: “After inspecting the vehicle in the garden of Al-Ittihadiya Palace, President Sisi took President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with him and personally drove the vehicle to the El-Massa Hotel in Nasr City, where the Türkiye–Egypt Business Forum was held.”
As part of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Egypt, the Türkiye–Egypt Business Forum was organized in Cairo in cooperation with the Council of Turkish Foreign Economic Relations (DEİK), the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), and the Egyptian General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI). The forum brought together over 850 Turkish and Egyptian business leaders.
The forum began with a panel titled “Enabling Platforms for Growth: Services, Infrastructure, and Connectivity”.
The speakers on the panel included:
Deputy Minister of Trade Mustafa Tuzcu made assessments on Türkiye–Egypt economic relations at the forum. Referring to the strong participation of the business communities of both countries, Tuzcu said: “What brings us together is not only trade figures or investment volumes, but a shared understanding of how our economies complement each other in a changing global environment.”
Tuzcu stated regarding bilateral trade volume: “Bilateral trade volume has doubled over the past decade, reaching nearly $8 billion as of 2025.” He added that “the jointly agreed target of $15 billion reflects a strategic vision grounded in the scale and potential of our economies.” Tuzcu provided the following information on Turkish investments in Egypt: “Turkish investments in Egypt have approached $4 billion,” and “these investments have provided employment for approximately 100,000 people.”
Tuzcu added that he sees growing potential for cooperation between companies in the coming period, particularly in renewable energy, mining, sustainable infrastructure, digitalization, and industrial localization.
DEİK President Nail Olpak addressed various topics related to cooperation between Türkiye and Egypt at the forum. Olpak highlighted the connection between the role of the Suez Canal in global trade and Türkiye’s Middle Corridor and port infrastructure.
Olpak emphasized that by developing joint production models in key industrial sectors such as textiles and ready-to-wear, both countries can export to third markets, primarily in Africa and the Middle East. He stated: “In today’s world, the importance of energy and defense industries has further increased. Transitioning to renewable energy, storage, and diversifying energy supply sources are common goals for both countries. When we work together, we can reach our goals much faster. In defense industry, our country has made significant advances. Our cooperation in this field is also important for regional security and stability.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the Closing Session of the Türkiye–Egypt Business Forum. In his speech, Erdoğan expressed great satisfaction at meeting distinguished representatives of the business community during his visit to Cairo. He emphasized that during the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, the two countries had thoroughly discussed commercial and economic relations and signed agreements that strengthen the foundation of relations expanding in all areas.
Erdoğan told Sisi that he closely follows Egypt’s 2030 vision for its future, adding: “We are two major countries at the center of the most pressing developments on the global agenda. We are witnessing together how our cooperation contributes not only to our countries but also to regional stability. We wish to use this cooperation most effectively, especially in investment and trade. While protectionism and isolationism are increasing on one side of the global economy, cooperation is becoming more important for sustainable prosperity. In this increasingly difficult environment, I sincerely believe that our economies can grow stronger together with your support.”
Erdoğan emphasized that Egypt is Türkiye’s largest trading partner in Africa and that bilateral trade has exceeded $8 billion. He said: “Egypt is Türkiye’s third-largest export destination with a 7.4 percent share and our seventh-largest import source with a 3.4 percent share. These numbers are encouraging and motivating, yet we are still behind our target of $15 billion in trade. Our business communities are well aware that the disrupted global business environment is responsible for this situation. As leaders, we are also aware of this. During our meeting with our esteemed brother, we thoroughly discussed measures to support our business communities. We will persistently pursue our goal of $15 billion in bilateral trade volume. Our trade ministers today comprehensively addressed steps to strengthen mutual investments, deepen technical cooperation, and resolve the challenges faced by our businesspeople. We hope to receive positive news from our Egyptian friends regarding the removal of obstacles faced by our investors in areas such as residence, work permits, and licenses.”
Erdoğan underscored that Türkiye and Egypt, as two fraternal countries, are also two powerful states with responsibilities beyond their borders in the region. He said: “During Israel’s targeted attacks on Gaza, Egypt, as a state and a people, has successfully passed serious tests. We always express our gratitude to the Egyptian authorities for their cooperation in delivering humanitarian aid to our Gazan brothers. I am a close witness to President Sisi’s sensitivity on this issue. We wish to work with Egypt on Gaza’s reconstruction.”
Erdoğan expressed his firm belief that when the technology and standards of Türkiye’s construction sector combine with Egypt’s human resources and experience, the two countries can undertake large-scale projects in Africa and Asia.
Erdoğan noted that there is much more work to be done in the future in energy, mining, and raw materials, and emphasized the importance of relaunching Ro-Ro ships, first operated in 2012, for the mutual benefit of both countries.
In his speech, Sisi said: “I extend my deep appreciation to the business communities of both countries, which have achieved increasing momentum in economic and commercial cooperation in recent years. This reflects the strength of the bonds and shared interests between Egypt and Türkiye.”
Sisi stated that the Türkiye–Egypt Business Forum highlighted the importance of economic partnership between the two countries: “Economic relations between Egypt and Türkiye are built on solid and practical foundations. The strong economic integration between the two countries, along with geographic and cultural proximity, political and commercial will, has contributed to unprecedented levels of trade and investment cooperation.”
Sisi noted that his country considers Türkiye one of its most important trading partners in Africa: “Türkiye is also one of the most important destinations for Egyptian exports. Turkish investments in Egypt have surpassed $4 billion. This success was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of governments and the business community. While celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, we agreed with President Erdoğan today that the cooperation potential has not yet been fully realized.”
Sisi emphasized that global developments require the localization of supply chains and closer integration with markets, highlighting the importance of combining Turkish industrial expertise with Egypt’s advantages. The Egyptian President pointed to areas of joint cooperation and stressed the need to encourage joint industrial investments in priority sectors such as automotive and spare parts, chemicals, metals, and home appliances.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has completed his official engagements in the Egyptian capital Cairo. Following the meetings, he departed for Türkiye aboard the special aircraft “TUR”. He was seen off at Cairo International Airport by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, his wife Entissar Amer, and Türkiye’s Ambassador to Cairo Salih Mutlu Şen.
Upon landing in Türkiye, President Erdoğan’s aircraft was met by officials at the Atatürk Airport State Guesthouse.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is undertaking an official visit to Cairo on 4 February 2026 at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Erdoğan, who is being welcomed with a ceremony at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace, is scheduled to co-chair the second meeting of the Turkey–Egypt High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council with el-Sisi during the visit.
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February 4, 2026
Purpose and Scope of the Visit
February 4, 2026
Background of Egypt–Türkiye Relations
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Welcome Ceremony and Official Talks
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Leadership Talks
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Joint Press Conference
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Türkiye–Egypt Business Forum
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President Erdoğan’s Departure from Egypt