Turkey Set to Sign Military Pact with Egypt

Turkey plans to sign a military and economic alliance with Egypt. The deal should be clinched when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits Cairo next Monday — the first such visit paid by a Turkish prime minister in 15 years.

 

As reported by Israeli news agency Ha’aretz, under former President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt rejected Turkish overtures; Mubarak viewed Erdogan as an interloper in regions that were under Egypt’s, and Saudi Arabia’s, influence. The new Egyptian government, however, seems eager to develop economic and strategic ties with Turkey.

 

Though Erdogan earlier announced to reporters that Turkey is suspending military and commercial relations with Israel, the alliance with Egypt is not intended as “revenge” against Israel, reports Ha’aretz. Rather, Erdogan’s intention is to extend Turkey’s influence to areas it has not reached in past decades.

 

As another sign of increasing tensions between the two states, dozens of Israelis were detained and had their passports seized when they landed in Istanbul on Monday.