Egypt and Turkey: A Strategic Partnership
The visit to Egypt by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an on September 12, 2011 marks a quality shift in relations between the two countries. The establishment in particular of the Higher Egyptian-Turkish Council for Strategic Cooperation (HETCSC) is a strong indicator of Cairo’s desire to raise relations with Ankara to a higher level.
The purpose of the HETCSC is to serve the regional interests of both countries. It also derive its importance from the fact that the two are heavy-weight nations; while Egypt stands a bridge connecting Europe and countries south of the Mediterranean reaching deep into Africa and the Arab Gulf, Turkey connects Europe with the Mediterranean, the Caucus and Central Asia.
Cooperation between Egypt and Turkey is based on the following:
- Foreign interference in the affairs of countries of the region should not be tolerated;
- Cooperation and consultation should override competition between the two countries;
- The two countries support the rights of the Palestinians; and
- The two countries reject the proliferation of nuclear weapons and support the elimination of weapons of mass destruction from the region.
The purpose of the HETCSC is to serve the regional interests of both countries. It also derive its importance from the fact that the two are heavy-weight nations; while Egypt stands a bridge connecting Europe and countries south of the Mediterranean reaching deep into Africa and the Arab Gulf, Turkey connects Europe with the Mediterranean, the Caucus and Central Asia.
Cooperation between Egypt and Turkey is based on the following:
- Foreign interference in the affairs of countries of the region should not be tolerated;
- Cooperation and consultation should override competition between the two countries;
- The two countries support the rights of the Palestinians; and
- The two countries reject the proliferation of nuclear weapons and support the elimination of weapons of mass destruction from the region.