Seth J. Frantzman
Jerusalem Post, May 30, 2023
“Cairo’s current outreach to Turkey and the Palestinian Authority, as well as potential new ties with Iran, all come in the context of a regional diplomatic revolution in which countries are pursuing diplomatic ties, rather than conflict.”
In the wake of Turkey’s recent elections Egypt was one of the countries that quickly reached out to discuss increasing diplomatic ties between Cairo and Ankara. While in the past Egypt and Turkey had tensions, today Egypt is not only reaching out to Ankara but also hosting a large delegation from the Palestinian Authority and also doing outreach to Iran.
This showcases Cairo’s new role in the region in which it is channeling the larger diplomatic engagement that is taking place across the Middle East. In addition, this is part of Egypt’s return to its historic role as a powerful country in the region and a center of dialogue.
The spokesman for the Egyptian presidency posted online about Egypt and Turkey working to build on their current diplomatic ties. The VOA noted on Tuesday that “Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Cairo on Saturday to push to restore full diplomatic relations between the two countries despite Ankara’s ongoing support for the Muslim Brotherhood group.”
The report further added that “during a joint news conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Cavusoglu said that Turkey was ‘using its influence to extend a Black Sea grain deal permitting the export of grain from Ukraine’ in its role as mediator between Moscow and Kyiv.”
Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly also welcomed his Palestinian counterpart Mohamed Shtayyeh at Cairo International Airport on Monday. The Palestinians brought a large delegation with them and this illustrates Cairo’s potential role in increasing trade and other ties with the Palestinian Authority, which could stabilize Ramallah and help reduce current tensions between the Palestinians and Israel. This comes amid several attacks and clashes in the West Bank this week and in the wake of a conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
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