Turkey’s ambassador to Cairo, Salih Mutlu Şen, stated that the strategic relationship between Egypt and Turkey is one based on honesty, trust, and mutual benefit.
In an exclusive interview, he explained that this relationship is historical, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to Turkey to sign agreements and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Cairo for “reunification” efforts showcasing improved bilateral relations.
The ambassador added that the volume of trade exchange between both nations has almost reached nine billion dollars, with plans to reach $15 billion within five years.
He also touched on the Gaza Strip situation, hailing Egypt’s show of responsibility in providing aid while affirming Ankara’s support for establishing a future Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
The ambassador explained that his country severed its commercial relations and reduced diplomatic representation with Tel Aviv, and only pledged a return to the level of ties before October 7 on the condition that the war on the Gaza Strip ends.
■How do you describe the current relationship between Egypt and Turkey?
The relationship between Egypt and Turkey is sincere, built on mutual trust and currently where it should be.
This relationship exists at all levels including presidential, institutional and that of the people, as both nations share a bond of love built up across centuries.
These ties come from a shared history extending back over 1,000 years, and from now on, we need to build on these relations for the benefit of both nations and to mutually benefit in all economic, technological, educational, artistic, cultural, health, and media fields.
■So, how do you view President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to Turkey and Erdogan’s visit to Egypt?
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to Turkey comes under the framework of strengthening joint cooperation, which politically serves as mutual benefit.
Of course, the mutual visits of both leaders are very important in relations between the two countries and have many benefits that cannot be counted – Cairo and Ankara appreciate each other.
These visits also provide the opportunity for mutual cooperation and giving instructions at the highest level regarding new avenues of cooperation.
Ankara also views President Sisi’s visit to Turkey after Erdogan’s visit to Cairo as an affirmation of the importance and value he attaches to relations with Turkey and his mutual relationship with Erdogan.
It also provides a high-level opportunity to meet, consult, discuss, negotiate and take many decisions in order to demonstrate a mutual will to guide relations.
Regarding Erdogan’s first to Egypt after 10 years, it served as a tangible sign of the extent of our interest in our mutual relations.
The visit also sent a message to Turkish, Egyptian and international public opinion that our relations have now reached a fantastic point in all areas.
■Let us return to describing the bilateral relationship between Cairo and Ankara
Following President Erdogan’s visit to Egypt, we put our relationship in a strategic format which also has an institutional structure.
Therefore, this first institutional meeting in Ankara, headed by the two presidents, is of great importance.
The institutions will negotiate to improve mutual bilateral cooperation in all fields, while the presidents give their instructions to sign new agreements.
These visits are of great importance and create very important opportunities to move relations forward.
■In your capacity as Ankara’s ambassador, I would like to know from you how Turkey’s people views the return of Egyptian-Turkish relations?
Turkish citizens, who have always treated Egypt with love, respect and friendliness see the Egyptians as their brothers without exception, and so they are very happy about this.
There is a constant effort to improve relations with Egypt, and this is a common opinion among everyone in Turkey between the ruling party, the Grand Turkish National Assembly and the opposition parties.
Therefore, I can say that everyone agrees that our relations with Egypt, which we consider to be one of the most important countries in the region, one of the most important countries in the Arab world, and one of our very important relatives with whom we live historically, must always be close.
In my personal capacity, I have met many citizens who have confirmed that the Turkish people fully welcome the return of relations and the importance of consolidating them with Egypt.
■What is the volume of trade exchange with Egypt, and what is expected in the coming years?
At the moment, it seems that our bilateral trade will break the record this year, and the numbers for the first six months of the year show that.
By the end of 2024, I hope it will reach nine billion dollars – this will be a record trade volume for us.
Turkey has remained the largest market for Egyptian exports for many years, but by the end of this year, I believe that Turkey will remain the largest market for Egyptian exports in terms of numbers.
Our goal is to increase the volume of our trade to 15 billion dollars within five years, that is, by 2029 or 2030 at the latest, and since the amount has almost reached nine billion dollars this goal seems to be easily achievable.
■What are the most important new projects and in what fields? And what are the most important agreements and their economic effects?
We are working on further pumping investments, hand in hand, into our private sector.
We particularly welcome the expansion of existing investments and new investments, as our goal is to increase trade and mutual investments. We have many goals in the field of health, science, technology and higher education, and we want to share our technical capabilities with Egypt.
The health and higher education fields in Turkey are very successful, and we can see important progress in cooperation between universities.
This is an important goal for us that Egypt also agrees on, and it will make a very important contribution to trade, investments and tourism.
And the Ro-Ro Maritime Transport project is vital to increase trade between the two countries.
■How does Egyptian-Turkish cooperation affect the Middle East region, especially the Gaza issue?
There is a complete coincidence in the views of Egypt and Turkey regarding the Palestinian issue and the establishment of a viable, independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital, so that our Palestinian brothers can live in freedom, honor and prosperity in their land.
I personally coordinate with the Egyptian-Turkish cooperation that occurs everywhere, because we were always on the same side in the United Nations, and it will only become stronger.
Ankara stands on the same side with Egypt and other Arab countries in achieving the goal of the Palestinian issue.
It is also prepared to take responsibility more effectively as our goal is the same. In other words, if Turkey’s great power enters the equation, we fully believe that we are able to make much faster progress in resolving the Palestinian issue and establishing a Palestinian state.
■So, how do you see Egypt’s role in resolving the Palestinian issue and stopping Israel’s war on Gaza?
Turkey understands very well the great efforts, sacrifices and position Egypt holds regarding ceasefire efforts in Gaza, and we appreciate that.
We also realize that Cairo bears the greatest burden in terms of humanitarian aid, and has provided us with a great opportunity in the last period in terms of transporting and delivering this humanitarian aid, because Egypt, as a neighbor of Gaza and Palestine, has great historical responsibilities and has made numerous sacrifices.
We appreciate all of these things and are well aware of them, as Turkey also supports its brothers in the Palestinian cause to the greatest extent possible.
We are ready to fulfill this responsibility and there will be great political and diplomatic support in shouldering the burden on the Palestinian issue.
■Will the relationship between Ankara and Tel Aviv return to what it was before, or are tensions between them increasing?
We have cut off our trade with Israel, and these sanctions are because we cannot stand idly by in the face of the bloodshed of our Palestinian brothers in Gaza.
Trade sanctions will continue until a permanent ceasefire is reached and sufficient humanitarian aid is delivered to Gaza.
Lifting our sanctions is conditional on stopping the war completely, and if these conditions are met, I do not think there is any obstacle to resuming our trade.
We have an embassy in Tel Aviv, and currently our ambassador has been summoned to Ankara, so diplomatic representation is at the charge d’affaires level, but all of this depends on Israel’s position on Jerusalem and Palestine.
