Türkiye and Egypt are set to announce the reappointment of ambassadors, according to statements by their foreign ministers, signaling a thaw in their strained relationship.
The move comes after years of tensions between the two regional powers, which led to the withdrawal of ambassadors following the Egyptian military’s coup against President Mohammed Morsi.
In a joint press conference in the Turkish capital, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, revealed that the two countries were working towards a possible meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
This marks a significant shift in their diplomatic relations, as Türkiye had previously taken a critical approach towards the Egyptian leader.
“You (journalists) often ask me ‘when will you appoint ambassadors again?'” said Çavuşoğlu. “We have discussed this issue today and we are taking concrete steps to raise the level of representation to the level of ambassador.”
He further stated that Türkiye and Egypt would be making a joint statement “in the upcoming period” to officially announce the reappointment of ambassadors.
Çavuşoğlu’s visit to Egypt last month was the highest-ranking Turkish official’s visit to the country in over a decade, indicating a willingness to mend ties.
While Türkiye and Egypt have clashed in other areas, such as Libya where they support opposing sides, Çavuşoğlu stated that their two countries would “work more closely” on Libya.
Shoukry echoed this sentiment, saying, “We are in agreement for the creation of a government (in Libya) that would reflect the will of the people and protect its territorial integrity.”
The reappointment of ambassadors between Türkiye and Egypt marks a positive step towards improving their bilateral relations and fostering regional stability.
