FM Fidan’s Egypt visit to bolster bilateral ties, prepare for strategic council meeting

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will travel to Egypt on Aug. 4-5 for a critical visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and discussing regional developments.

The visit, at the invitation of Egyptian Foreign Minister Bedr Abdulati, will focus on preparations for the upcoming High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, set to be co-chaired by the Presidents of both countries.

Strengthening bilateral relations

Fidan and Abdulati will engage in extensive discussions covering political, economic and cultural relations. This visit marks Fidan’s first official meeting with Abdulati, who was appointed Egypt’s Foreign Minister in July.

One of the primary objectives of the visit is to lay the groundwork for the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Egyptian President Abdulfattah el-Sisi will lead.

The Council’s formation was pivotal to Erdogan’s landmark visit to Egypt in February after a 12-year hiatus.

The upcoming Council meeting is expected to result in the signing of nearly 20 agreements, enhancing cooperation in energy, healthcare, tourism and defense sectors. Both nations aim to increase their trade volume from $10 billion to $15 billion.

Focus on regional issues

Fidan’s agenda includes a visit to El Arish and the Rafah border crossing, highlighting the importance of Gaza-related developments. Discussions will also cover humanitarian aid to Gaza, regional tensions and issues concerning Libya, Sudan and Somalia.

Fidan is scheduled to inspect the logistics center of the Egyptian Red Crescent, which facilitates aid delivery to Gaza.

Revitalizing Türkiye-Egypt relations

Recent efforts have seen a significant boost in Türkiye-Egypt relations. Erdogan’s visit in February was a cornerstone event, symbolizing a renewed strategic partnership.

The upcoming Council meeting is expected to further solidify this relationship, focusing on long-term cooperation.