Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has arrived in Cairo, Egypt, marking his first visit to the capital in 12 years. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi greeted Erdoğan with a ceremonial welcome at the airport.

During the visit, Erdoğan is scheduled to engage in one-on-one and inter-delegation meetings with President Sisi at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace, where an official ceremony welcomed him. A joint press conference is expected to address topics such as bilateral relations and the Gaza situation.

Accompanying Erdoğan are high-profile Turkish ministers, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca, and Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır.

The visit comes after strained relations between Türkiye and Egypt, with the last visit by President Erdoğan taking place in 2012. Tensions arose following the ousting of former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi in 2013. Diplomatic dialogues resumed in 2021, leading to several high-level meetings, including encounters at the World Cup and the G20 Summit.

As two mutual ambassadors were appointed in July 2023, the visit also signifies ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties. Türkiye currently holds the position of Egypt’s fifth-largest trading partner, as reported by the Central Bank of Egypt.