Naval exercises between Egypt and Turkey scheduled in the Mediterranean Sea
After years of strained relations, Egypt and Turkey have announced plans to conduct joint naval drills in the Mediterranean Sea from September 22 to 26. The naval exercises, titled 'Friendship Sea,' will take place in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The announcement comes as a significant development in the relations between the two countries, which soured in 2013 following the removal of Mohammed Morsi, an Islamist, as president. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, who was defense minister at the time, played a key role in Morsi's removal.
The Muslim Brotherhood, the group to which Morsi belonged, was outlawed in Egypt later in 2013. Turkey, on the other hand, has a history of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood group. However, the relations between Egypt and Turkey began to thaw after a series of midlevel talks on normalizing relations.
The turning point in Egypt-Turkey relations was in 2022, when the leaders met on the sidelines of the World Cup in Qatar. This meeting marked a significant step towards mending the fractured relationship.
The naval drills will involve Turkish frigates, fast attack vessels, a submarine, and F-16 fighter jets, as well as Egyptian naval units. The commanders of the two navies are expected to observe the drills on September 25.
Egypt and Turkey share intelligence and cooperate on counterterrorism issues. However, Egypt has also been forging close ties with Greece, Turkey's historical rival, and Cyprus. This move could potentially complicate the already delicate balance in the region.
It's worth noting that Egypt, Qatar, and the US have been publicly mediating between Israel and Hamas to end the war, while Turkey has played a behind-the-scenes role to support their efforts. Turkey and Egypt are also major trade partners.
Despite the upcoming naval drills, there has been no immediate confirmation from the Egyptian military regarding the joint exercises with Turkey. The search results do not provide information about which countries will participate in the 'Friendship Sea' maneuvers in September 2023.
In a surprising twist, Egypt and Turkey exchanged ambassadors in 2023. This exchange signifies a significant step towards normalising diplomatic relations between the two nations. The exact implications of this development remain to be seen, but it is a positive step towards improving the relationship between Egypt and Turkey.
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