Erdogan seeks resumption of ties with Egypt for better position in Arab world

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has claimed that diplomatic channels between Ankara and Cairo have reopened and that negotiations to re-establish rmal relations are underway. statement comes as Turkey faces isolation in Arab world that strained for years over Islamist politics and regional conflicts. However, relationship between Turkey and Egypt is complicated as both sides have taken opposite stances on various geo-political issues. Several local and Arab media outlets have reported Egyptian foreign ministry officials as saying that Cairo has intention of re-starting diplomatic relations with Ankara and that reports of a resumption of talks are false. But Turkish foreign minister claims that high-level talks between two countries have alrey started and negotiations to re-start diplomatic relations. 

'Lack of trust is rmal'

Cavusoglu, while talking to Turkish state news ncy Anolu, said that Turkey and Egypt have started talking on intelligence and foreign ministry level, ding “lack of trust is rmal” and that neir side put forward preconditions. Cavusoglu has me President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s intentions clear that Turkey wants to re-establish rmal ties with Egypt, which experts believe is to better its position in Arab world. 

Relations between Turkey and Egypt soured in 2013 after Erdogan criticised and condemned military coup in Cairo that saw ousting of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi. Erdogan was against coup because Morsi was a supporter of Muslim Brorhood and new Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was being backed by Saudi Arabia, a country Ankara doesn’t enjoy cordial relations with. ties between Turkey and Egypt became worse in following years as both countries withdrew ir respective ambassors and started taking opposite stances on issues impacting region. 

(Im Credit: AP)