Türkiye has achieved great progress in the field of manufacturing drones (French)
Turkey agreed to deliver combat drones to Egypt, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit soon, indicating the completion of reconciliation between the two countries, according to what Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Sunday.
During a television interview, Fidan confirmed that "the normalization process has been largely completed, and relations (between the two countries) are important for security and trade in the region."
He added, "We agreed to provide them with drones," stressing that "we must have serious relations with Egypt for the sake of security in the Mediterranean."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit Egypt on February 14, during which he will meet his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, after 12 years of estrangement between the two countries.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (left) shakes hands with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry during a meeting between them in Cairo last October (French)
According to Anatolia Agency, Erdogan's last visit to Cairo dates back to November 2012, when he was Prime Minister, to meet with the late Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.
The two countries recalled their ambassadors after the overthrow of Morsi in July 2013 following the intervention of the army led by Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who was Minister of Defense at the time before assuming the presidency the following year.
But relations have improved between the two countries since Erdogan and Sisi shook hands in November 2022 on the sidelines of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, then they communicated by phone in February 2023 after a devastating earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, claiming the lives of tens of thousands.
In July 2023, the two countries announced the restoration of diplomatic relations between them at the ambassadorial level.
Source: Anadolu Agency