Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s foreign minister, met in Ankara on Wednesday with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. During the visit, the Turkey-Egypt Joint Planning Group meeting took place, chaired by both ministers with participation from other officials, aimed at preparing the second meeting of the Supreme Strategic Cooperation Council, scheduled to be held in Cairo within 2026, under the leadership of both countries’ leaders.
During the discussions between Fidan and Abdelatty, they addressed bilateral Ankara-Cairo relations, trade relations, ceasefire implementation and reconstruction in Gaza, Syria’s territorial integrity and political stability, developments in Libya and Sudan among others. The two foreign ministers made joint statements after their meeting, highlighting the strategic strengthening of relations between the two countries and cooperation on regional issues. As Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced, the two countries aim to complete agreements ahead of the second Supreme Strategic Cooperation Council session next year, strengthening the institutional framework of relations.
Egypt is already Turkey’s largest trading partner in Africa, with bilateral trade reaching $9 billion in 2024 and a strategic goal to increase to $15 billion. Turkish investments “significantly enhance employment and productive capacity” in Egypt, according to Fidan. From the Egyptian side, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the importance of “creating a favorable climate for new investment opportunities” and the value of Turkish businesses’ presence in Egypt. Trade development is a common priority with clear political mandate from the leaders of both countries.
According to Hakan Fidan, the two countries decided to deepen their cooperation in strategic sectors such as transportation and connectivity. “Our military cooperation with Egypt has also been strengthened recently. We have a common will to promote dialogue on defense and security issues through mutual visits and exercises. The defense industry is also important, essential and very promising for our cooperation. We believe that our cooperation in this field will be further strengthened through joint projects to be developed with public institutions and companies,” the Turkish foreign minister stated. The ministers reiterated their joint call to Israel to lift obstacles to humanitarian aid entry into Gaza, with Fidan particularly thanking Egyptian efforts in the region. Both countries will contribute to the upcoming international conference for Gaza reconstruction, which Egypt will host. Consultations continue on Gaza’s security and governance, emphasizing that the Palestinian people are the main authority and that Gaza must remain part of the Palestinian state.
Both sides also expressed their support for Syria’s return to its regional and international role. “Syria’s position on the regional and international stage is extremely encouraging. Mr. Al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington is a significant development. We are also satisfied with Syria’s participation in the international coalition against the Islamic State. In this way, additional opportunities have been created for developing Syria’s counter-terrorism capabilities and improving the security environment,” said Hakan Fidan.
Minister of Foreign Affairs @HakanFidan co-chaired the First Meeting of the Türkiye-Egypt Joint Planning Group, together with Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates of the Arab Republic of Egypt, in Ankara. pic.twitter.com/yO7X1Yi3Yq
— Turkish MFA (@MFATurkiye) November 12, 2025
The Egyptian minister emphasized the need to “meet the expectations of the Syrian people” and support Syria so it “can regain its active role in the region and assume its place in the Arab and Islamic world and the international community“. In this context, he said, it is extremely important to follow an inclusive policy. Regarding Libya, the Egyptian minister stressed the importance of a solution that respects sovereignty, ends division, and the need to remove foreign forces, mercenaries and groups from the country. The two foreign ministers also expressed concern about developments in Sudan and highlighted the need for ceasefire, civilian protection and unimpeded humanitarian aid delivery. Sudan’s unity and integrity must be preserved, Fidan and Abdelatty emphasized, rejecting plans to dismember the country. The talks extended to the Red Sea and Horn of Africa region, emphasizing “the importance of joint efforts for stability” and necessary moves to establish peace, according to the Egyptian minister.
