Turkey eyes Egypt alliance

Turkey is looking to develop greater economic and strategic ties with Egypt following the Ankara government’s decision last week to downgrade relations with Israel as part of the continuing conflict over the deadly Mavi Marmara raid in 2010.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an is expected to sign military and economic cooperation agreements during a visit to Cairo next week as part of a strategic partnership agreement with Egypt.

“Along with regional issues, the talks in Cairo will focus on the establishment of a high-level cooperation council between the two countries, [as well as the] signing of a strategic cooperation accord,” a senior Turkish diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News on Wednesday.

In the Cairo talks, Turkish officials will also discuss Ankara’s decision to increase the country’s naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean. Erdo?an will be accompanied on his trip by a number of ministers, including Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu and Economy Minister Zafer Ça?layan. The prime minister voiced his intention to visit Gaza following his visit to Egypt, but it remains unclear if he will be able to cross into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip over Israeli objections. Erdo?an pledged to visit Gaza in reaction to Israel.