Turkey and Egypt conducted their first joint military exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean after a 13-year hiatus, between Sept. 22-26. The two countries also signed an agreement in August on the joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles capable of vertical takeoff and landing.
TRT World reported the exercise as a sign of shifting alliances and the emergence of a new regional balance. Greece's Kathimerini newspaper, assessing whether the rapprochement between Turkey and Egypt poses a challenge for Athens, also commented that Israel's ongoing military activity is changing regional alliances.
The “Sea of Friendship” exercise brought together the commanders of the two countries' navies on the observation day. Turkey used two frigates, two assault boats, one submarine, and two F-16 fighter jets. Egypt sent elements of the navy and air force. Two Egyptian warships visited Turkey's Marmaris Aksaz naval base as well.
Following the military intervention in Egypt in 2013, relations between the two countries became strained and diplomatic relations were downgraded to the chargé d'affaires level.
After years of harsh rhetoric against his counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Egyptian leader met for the first time at a reception held in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Following that meeting, bilateral relations began to normalize. Reciprocal ambassador appointments were made in 2023, and the same year Erdoğan and Sisi met again at the G-20 summit held in New Delhi and in Riyadh at the Islamic Cooperation Organization and Arab League Joint Summit on Gaza. During the meeting in Riyadh, an agreement was reached to resume presidential-level visits and to reactivate bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and Erdoğan made an official visit to Egypt on Feb. 14, 2024. A series of events is also planned to mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Egypt, which were established in 1925.
