President Erdoğan: External interference in Iran is a risk for the region

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, as part of an official visit. Following the agreements signed between the two countries, the two leaders made important statements at a press conference.

Highlights from President Erdoğan's statements are as follows:

I am very pleased to be in Cairo on the occasion of the second meeting of our High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, the first of which we held in Ankara in September 2024. I would like to thank Mr. Sisi once again for the warm hospitality shown to me and my delegation, and to my Egyptian brothers and sisters who welcomed us with great affection.

THE NUMBER OF MUTUAL VISITS IS APPROACHING 50

We want to utilize our bonds of brotherhood, kneaded with our thousand-year common history, not only for the prosperity of our peoples but also to contribute to the stability of our region, together with Palestine. We are pleased to observe that our relations are being carried further in every field thanks to this common vision we have determined with Mr. Sisi. Look, we have left behind approximately 16 months since the first meeting of our High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. During this period, I have visited Egypt twice on various occasions. Our Foreign Ministers have met seven times. When we add our other ministers and high-level officials, the number of mutual visits is approaching 50. With the joint declaration and various documents we accepted today, I hope we are consolidating the legal basis of our relations.

WE AIM TO INCREASE OUR TRADE VOLUME TO 15 BILLION DOLLARS

Distinguished members of the press, Egypt continues to be Turkey's largest trading partner in Africa. We aim to increase our trade volume, which has been hovering between 8 and 9 billion dollars for the last three years, to 15 billion dollars. We are extremely pleased that the investments of Turkish companies in Egypt are approaching 4 billion dollars. At the business forum where we will meet with our business people today, we will discuss mutual investment and cooperation opportunities. We also want to develop joint projects in the fields of energy and transportation. I would also like to express with great happiness here that the strengthening relations between Turkey and Egypt have also reflected positively on tourism; more than 500 thousand tourists were hosted mutually in our countries last year. Our hope is for this to double in the coming period.

The Egyptian people show great interest in Turkish culture and language. As Turkey, we do not want to leave this interest unrequited.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT ISRAEL'S DECISION TO RECOGNIZE SOMALILAND

In this respect, we consider the reopening of the Alexandria Branch of our Yunus Emre Institute and the country offices of our institutions such as TİKA and TRT to be important. My dear brothers, we are two neighboring countries with the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean; we desire to increase our cooperation in the fields of bilateral maritime trade and transportation, freedom of navigation and passage, and maritime security. We believe that the joint steps to be taken will make significant contributions to both regional peace and the economic and strategic interests of both countries. The main subject of our common agenda is the Palestinian cause. It is a fact that although a ceasefire has been established, the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza still continues. Since October 11, over 500 Gazans have lost their lives in Israeli attacks; last week, 30 of our brothers, including children, were martyred. We reject these attacks and violations that aim to sabotage the Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration. We are working together with Egypt on initiatives that will make peace possible in Gaza; I hope we will continue this. We will also provide all possible contributions for the reconstruction of Gaza, which has been destroyed by Israeli attacks.

On this occasion, I would like to thank the Egyptian authorities once again today for their cooperation in delivering the humanitarian aid we sent to Gaza to the region. Distinguished members of the press, in our meetings today, we also touched upon regional issues, especially Libya, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa. Preserving unity and integrity in the country for the establishment of lasting stability in Libya continues to be our common goal with Egypt; we are in consensus on supporting the processes to be carried out under the leadership and ownership of Libyans. We hope for a ceasefire to be achieved in Sudan first, and then for a sustainable peace to be established. We do not accept Israel's decision to recognize Somaliland, which targets the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia. Steps regarding the future of the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Somaliland region must be taken in a way that reflects the will of all Somalis.