Thaw in relations between Erdoğan and al-Sisi?
After years of relative silence, Turkey and Egypt are on the road to rapprochement. At a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, the two leaders have spoken out in favour of closer trade relations and joint diplomatic initiatives. Commentators discuss what this portends.
Time to find solutions
The visit could mark the beginning of a new era, Daily Sabah comments:
“Following 12 years marked by rivalry and conflict, the visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Egypt has the potential to open a new chapter in Ankara-Cairo relations. This visit offers both nations the opportunity to forge a novel model of cooperative relations on numerous contentious issues. More importantly, it could herald the onset of strategic cooperation in the realms of defence and security, areas in which such collaboration was previously non-existent. ... To facilitate the recent rapprochement, both sides have chosen to separate areas of disagreement, allowing time to gradually find solutions.”
Don't expect too much too soon
The rapprochement will take time, Yetkin Report observes:
“What happens now? In countries led by a male authority figure, relations with other countries, like almost all matters, are determined by the words of the head of state. Considering that the Turkish side in particular has said barely anything positive about the other side until recently, the negative vibes created during the period of tension cannot be expected to disappear overnight. Even if relations appear to have normalised, the two sides will continue to observe and test each other for a while yet.”
In competition mode
News.bg takes a closer look at the plans for increased cooperation between the two countries:
“Egypt and Turkey are more in competition than cooperation mode, since both countries see themselves as energy hubs for the supply of natural gas to Europe. A sign of a deepening of their ties would be if the already widespread news that Egypt wants to buy Turkish drones was confirmed. Until then, Turkey and Egypt can be, if not friends, at least good acquaintances. ... Until a different wind blows.”