Egypt and Turkey have signed a letter of intent aimed at strengthening their cooperation in the field of defense, a
new stage in a rapprochement initiated after several years of diplomatic tensions.
The letter of intent between Egypt and Turkey, signed by the defense ministers of the two countries, must serve as a framework for increased collaboration between their armed forces and their military industries.
This initiative comes against the backdrop of mounting regional crises, from Gaza to Sudan, via Libya, the Red Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The military rapprochement had already resulted, in 2025, in the holding of the joint naval exercise named “Sea of Friendship”, the first in thirteen years.
Cooperation was then extended to the air forces, with manoeuvres organised in Egypt then in Turkey, as well as
to special forces units.
The defense industry occupies a central place in this standardisation.
The Turkish group ASELSAN announced, during the EDEX exhibition held in Cairo in December 2025, the opening of a representative office in Egypt.
Named Aselsan Egypt, this structure must meet the needs of the Egyptian armed forces and other local customers.
The two countries had also concluded agreements relating to the production of unmanned ground vehicles within the Egyptian Kader Advanced Industries factory, before expanding their cooperation to the joint manufacturing of drones.
These projects are based in particular on technology transfer, local production and the diversification of Egypt’s military equipment suppliers.
For Karam Said, Turkey specialist at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, Ankara is seeking to expand opportunities for its defence industry, while Egypt constitutes both an important market and a gateway to North Africa and the Middle East.
Cairo, for its part, intends to strengthen its capabilities in drones and anti-drone systems in the face of the crises surrounding the country.
The resumption of relations accelerated after the reestablishment of ambassadors in 2023 and the reciprocal visits of Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Despite sometimes divergent interests, particularly in Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean, the two capitals now display a desire for coordination on Gaza, Sudan and the security of the Red Sea.
The lasting scope of this rapprochement will, however, depend on its translation into common industrial projects and permanent consultation mechanisms.
MK/AK/Sf/fss/as/APA