Egypt Through Türkiye’s Eyes: The Heart of the Arab World, and a Pillar of Regional Stability
Turkish Ambassador to Egypt, Salih Mutlu Şen, affirmed that Egyptian-Turkish relations are witnessing an unprecedented phase of political, economic, and strategic rapprochement. He stressed that Egypt will remain Türkiye’s largest trading partner in Africa, while Türkiye continues to rank among Egypt’s top five trading partners worldwide, with bilateral trade expected to reach a record US$9 billion by the end of 2026.
The ambassador made these remarks during his mid-year press conference, where he reviewed the latest developments in bilateral relations across a wide range of sectors, including the economy and investment, transportation, military cooperation, and regional and diplomatic affairs.
Football: Egypt’s Success Is Türkiye’s Success
Ambassador Şen praised the Egyptian national football team’s performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and its historic qualification for the Round of 16 for the first time, describing the achievement as “historic” and expressing confidence that the team is capable of achieving even greater success, commensurate with Egypt’s immense potential.
He noted that Egypt, with a population exceeding 120 million, possesses an enormous football fan base and exceptional sporting talent capable of achieving greater accomplishments on the global stage. He added that sporting success strengthens the confidence of future generations.
The ambassador also emphasized that the Turkish people stand firmly behind the Egyptian national team and that he personally wishes Egypt every success, explaining that the Turkish people regard Egypt’s victories as their own, reflecting the thousand-year historical ties between the two nations.
Economy: The Backbone of Bilateral Relations
Ambassador Şen described trade and economic cooperation as the “cornerstone” and “backbone” of relations between the two countries. He pointed out that both Egypt and Türkiye possess large, globally integrated economies, while Egypt enjoys a strategic geographic location and extensive trade agreements with Europe, Africa, and the Arab world.
He stated that bilateral trade reached approximately US$8 billion in 2025, with an almost perfectly balanced exchange of exports between the two countries, describing it as a “healthy and sustainable” trading relationship.
He further noted that bilateral trade reached US$3 billion during the first four months of 2026, with each country exporting approximately US$1.5 billion to the other, representing nearly 15 percent growth compared with the same period in the previous year.
According to the ambassador, if this momentum continues, bilateral trade is expected to reach a record US$9 billion by the end of the year.
He added that Egypt will remain Türkiye’s leading trading partner in Africa this year and in the years ahead, while Türkiye will continue to rank among Egypt’s top five trading partners globally and remain one of Egypt’s top three export destinations.
Enhancing Connectivity: Toward a Railway Link Between the Two Countries
Addressing transportation, Ambassador Şen stressed that expanding trade requires stronger air, maritime, land, and railway connectivity between the two countries. He indicated that the coming period could witness positive developments regarding the reactivation of Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) freight transport services.
He also revealed his aspiration to see Egypt and Türkiye connected by a railway within the next decade, describing such a project as one that would significantly benefit trade, tourism, and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The ambassador also highlighted the expansion of air connectivity, noting that AJet has increased its weekly flights between Ankara and Cairo from three to five and has launched direct flights between Alexandria and Istanbul. At the same time, Egyptian airlines have expanded their services to Türkiye, while Turkish Airlines continues to play a significant role in transporting Egyptian exports, particularly fresh fruits and technology products.
New Turkish Investments in Egypt and a 500-Factory Industrial Complex
Ambassador Şen confirmed that Turkish companies continue to expand their investments in Egypt, stating that total new Turkish investments during 2026 will amount to no less than US$500 million, with the possibility of exceeding that figure.
He pointed to new investment projects in Egypt’s Tenth of Ramadan City, West Qantara, and Ain Sokhna, alongside planned projects in 6th of October City, Sadat City, Ismailia, Port Said, and Borg El Arab, in addition to a major investment planned for Minya Governorate within the next few years.
The ambassador also announced that Polaris Industrial Parks has completed all legal procedures for establishing the Turkish industrial zone in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. The project, which will accommodate 500 factories, has now entered the implementation phase.
He emphasized that Turkish investments in Egypt are no longer confined to the textile sector but have expanded into a wide range of industries, including ceramics and manufacturing.
Close Regional Coordination on Gaza, Libya, and Sudan
On regional affairs, Ambassador Şen emphasized the close coordination between Egypt and Türkiye on regional issues. He noted that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit to Cairo included meetings on developments in Libya, the Iran-Israel conflict, and joint efforts aimed at maintaining the ceasefire.
He explained that Egypt and Türkiye, in cooperation with Qatar, are making intensive efforts to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, stressing that protecting the Palestinian people, safeguarding their rights, and ensuring their continued presence remain their highest priorities.
The ambassador also underlined the complete alignment between Egypt and Türkiye in supporting the unity and territorial integrity of Libya and Sudan and rejecting any attempts to divide states or establish parallel entities, adding that this approach also extends to Somalia, Syria, and Iraq.
Expanding Military and Security Cooperation
Ambassador Şen stated that the military cooperation framework agreement signed during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Cairo in February has opened new horizons for defense cooperation between the two countries.
He referred to joint military exercises and high-level exchanges between the armed forces of both countries, highlighting that the visit of the Turkish Chief of the General Staff to the Octagon headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital marked an important milestone in bilateral military cooperation.
Describing the Egyptian Armed Forces as “strong and valiant,” the ambassador said they remain one of the key pillars of stability in the Middle East. He also praised Egypt’s significant contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions, noting that the Egyptian military is among the world’s largest contributors to such operations.
On the security front, he highlighted ongoing cooperation between the Egyptian police and the Turkish Gendarmerie in combating terrorism, organized crime, smuggling, and narcotics, while expressing expectations for reciprocal visits between officials of the two countries’ interior ministries in the near future.
Praise for Egyptian Diplomacy
The Turkish ambassador praised Egyptian diplomacy, describing it as one of the region’s most professional and effective diplomatic schools. He noted that he has worked closely with Egyptian diplomats for nearly 18 years and holds their professionalism and expertise in high regard.
He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with the League of Arab States, describing it as the collective institution of the Arab world, and reiterated Ankara’s unwavering support for the sovereignty, stability, and territorial integrity of Arab countries.
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Şen described Egypt as “the heart of the Arab world” and its political and cultural center, emphasizing that Egypt’s stability and prosperity are essential to the stability of the wider region. He added that Egyptian-Turkish relations are entering a new phase of strategic partnership encompassing the economy, investment, transportation, security, and regional affairs.
