Erdogan to attend D-8 Summit in Egypt

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Egypt on December 19, 2024, to attend the 11th Summit of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8). During the summit, Erdogan is scheduled to deliver a speech addressing important regional and global issues.

Why it matters

The D-8 summit provides a key platform for Türkiye to engage with other member countries on critical topics such as economic development, youth investment, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Erdogan’s participation highlights Türkiye’s ongoing diplomatic and economic efforts to strengthen its global partnerships, especially in the Middle East.

Details

• Speech, participation: President Erdogan will speak on the theme “Investing in Youth and Supporting SMEs: Shaping the Economy of Tomorrow.” He will also take part in a special session focused on the situations in Palestine and Lebanon.
• Bilateral meetings: Erdogan is expected to hold one-on-one talks with fellow heads of state during the summit, discussing key global and regional issues, with a particular focus on Syria and Palestine.
• Visit announcement: The Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate confirmed that Erdogan will leave for Egypt on Thursday, December 19, to attend the summit.

Zoom in

This summit is an important opportunity for Türkiye to strengthen its economic and political relations with other D-8 member countries. Erdogan’s presence will be crucial in addressing ongoing regional challenges, particularly those in Syria and Palestine.

Zoom out

Erdogan’s visit follows a period of improving relations between Türkiye and Egypt. After years of tension, high-level visits between the two countries have signaled a positive shift, opening the door to increased cooperation on regional and global issues.

Türkiye-Egypt relations

Relations between Türkiye and Egypt have improved in recent months. In February 2024, President Erdogan visited Egypt, marking a significant milestone in diplomatic ties, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi welcoming Erdogan at Cairo International Airport. President Sisi later reciprocated with a visit to Türkiye in September 2024, further solidifying the thaw in bilateral relations and paving the way for closer collaboration in the future.