Turkey and Egypt make first diplomatic contact since 2013

Mar 12, 2021

Turkey and Egypt made their first diplomatic contacts since 2013, the Turkish foreign minister said Thursday.

“We have contacts at both the level of intelligence and foreign ministries with Egypt. Diplomatic-level contacts have started,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told the Turkish state Anadolu Agency.

The diplomat added that the two states are following a “road map” as they resume diplomatic communication and that the talks are happening without preconditions, according to the outlet.

Turkish-Egyptian relations deteriorated in 2013 after a coup removed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi from power, with current President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi later taking over the post. Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was supported by Turkey.

An Egyptian security official received a phone call from a Turkish intelligence official Thursday. The Turkish official proposed a meeting in Cairo to discuss economic, political and diplomatic cooperation, Reuters reported Friday, citing Egyptian intelligence sources.