Fidan says Egypt, Turkey ‘largest two nations’ in Eastern Mediterranean

CAIRO - 14 August 2026: Egypt and Turkey are committed to advancing bilateral trade to $15 billion while working together to secure the unity and sovereignty of Libya, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in a Wednesday press conference in Cairo.

Speaking during the second meeting of the Egyptian-Turkish Joint Planning Group, Fidan highlighted that relations between Cairo and Ankara are moving forward under the leadership of both nations' presidents.

After a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, the two diplomats discussed modifying their existing Free Trade Agreement to ease trade terms and boost economic cooperation.

Addressing Eastern Mediterranean dynamics, Fidan stressed Ankara's preference for understanding over conflict, describing Egypt and Turkey as the two largest nations in the Eastern Mediterranean and expressing a desire to deepen maritime cooperation.

On regional crises, Fidan noted strong alignment between Cairo and Ankara regarding Gaza, Palestinian affairs, and humanitarian aid delivery.

Regarding Libya, Fidan affirmed that both nations share the goal of unifying the country across its eastern and western regions to preserve its sovereignty, benefiting both the Libyan people and the wider region.

Fidan also called for an immediate end to the conflict in Sudan to alleviate human suffering, adding that both countries continue to work with regional partners to resolve the crisis.