Egypt and Turkey Emphasize the Need to Transition to the Second Phase of Trump's Peace Plan

SadaNews - Egypt and Turkey emphasized the necessity of stabilizing the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and working towards the transition to the second phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated during a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdel Atti following the first meeting of the Turkish-Egyptian joint working group in Ankara on Wednesday, "There must be a legal framework regarding the international stabilization force expected to be deployed in Gaza under Trump's peace plan."

He added that the Palestinian movement "Hamas" has shown a willingness to implement the ceasefire agreement, urging Israel to demonstrate the same willingness on its part.

For his part, Abdel Atti said, "Ensuring both parties' commitment to the ceasefire agreement in Gaza can only be achieved with the presence of the international stabilization force," noting that the decision to be issued by the Security Council regarding Gaza "will be of great importance and must be carefully formulated."

He added, "There must be an accurate specification of the mandates of the entities that will be established under the proposed Security Council resolution," expressing hope that "agreement will be reached on the resolution and it will be issued as soon as possible."

Formation of the International Force

Abdel Atti mentioned that he discussed with his Turkish counterpart the ongoing negotiations in New York regarding the U.S. resolution on the international stabilization force in Gaza, adding that "the top priority we are working on is to stabilize the ceasefire, and then deploy international forces within a specific mandate for peacekeeping, not peace enforcement."

He emphasized the need for the "U.S. draft resolution to be implementable on the ground, and it must be precisely and carefully formulated, taking into account the rights of the Palestinian people in the future."

He added, "We agreed with the Turkish side on the importance of joint work to support the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and to work towards implementing the second phase of Trump’s peace plan."

Abdel Atti and Fidan discussed the preparations for holding the "Cairo International Conference for Reconstruction and Early Recovery in the Gaza Strip," and Abdel Atti expressed Egypt's desire for effective Turkish participation in this conference, contributing to mobilizing international efforts to support the reconstruction of the sector.

The two ministers emphasized their countries' commitment to the two-state solution based on the June 4, 1967 lines, and rejection of any attempts to change the legal status or impose new facts on the ground.

On another note, Fidan mentioned that he also discussed with his Egyptian counterpart the situation in Syria, describing Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara’s visit to Washington and his meeting with Trump at the White House on Monday as "an important development."

For his part, Abdel Atti stressed Egypt's firm position calling for respect for the unity and sovereignty of Syrian territory, rejecting any actions or interventions that could undermine its stability, and working to activate a comprehensive political process that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people across all its spectra.

The two ministers expressed "Egypt and Turkey's deep concern over the situation in Al-Fasher in the Darfur region of western Sudan, and they affirmed their countries' support for the unity and integrity of Sudan's territory, rejecting any plans to divide it, and emphasizing the importance of combined regional and international efforts to encourage political solutions and national dialogue."

Abdel Atti affirmed "Egypt's consistent position in support of the unity and stability of Sudan and its national institutions, condemning the horrific atrocities witnessed in the city of Al-Fasher," pointing out the "importance of reaching a comprehensive ceasefire and opening humanitarian corridors to ensure the flow of aid throughout the country."

Regarding the Libyan issue, Abdel Atti reiterated Egypt's support for the roadmap proposed by the UN mission, calling for presidential and legislative elections to be held concurrently as soon as possible, "and for the exit of all foreign forces, foreign fighters, and mercenaries from Libyan territory, restoring security and stability and preserving Libya's unity and sovereignty."

The two ministers affirmed the importance of enhancing Egyptian-Turkish cooperation in Africa, "which contributes to supporting development and stability, and they agreed on strengthening the trilateral Egyptian-Turkish-African partnership through joint development and investment projects, especially in the areas of infrastructure, energy, and agriculture."

Abdel Atti stressed the "importance of supporting stability in the Horn of Africa and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, rejecting any attempts to interfere in its internal affairs."

Bilateral Relations

About the relations between Egypt and Turkey, Abdel Atti said, "We look forward to holding the second session of the high-level strategic council in Cairo soon with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."

He noted that the two countries aim to increase their trade exchange to 15 billion dollars over the next few years, and that Turkish companies are contributing through their investments in Egypt to increase employment and enhance production capacity there.

Fidan praised the development of relations between the two countries, noting that Egypt is Turkey's largest trading partner in Africa, and that his country seeks to enhance cooperation with it in the field of energy and develop military dialogue between the two countries.

The two ministers affirmed, during the joint working group meeting, the leadership of both countries' eagerness to "enhance cooperation in various fields and build on what has been achieved over the past two years."

Abdel Atti pointed out that the two reciprocal visits by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Cairo on February 14, 2024, and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to Ankara on September 4 of the same year, "established a new phase in the course of cooperation between the two countries following the reactivation of the high-level strategic cooperation council."

Before the meeting, Abdel Atti held a meeting with a number of Turkish businessmen and investors at the headquarters of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, with the presence of its head, Rifaat Hisarcıklıoğlu.

Abdel Atti noted that economic relations with Turkey "are witnessing unprecedented momentum in enhancing joint cooperation," emphasizing the important role that the business community in both countries can play to achieve the goal set by Presidents Sisi and Erdoğan of reaching a trade exchange of 15 billion dollars in the next five years.

He expressed hope for a "strong participation from the Turkish business community in the Egyptian-Turkish Economic Forum scheduled for 2026."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Abdel Atti at the headquarters of the ruling "Justice and Development Party" in Ankara after the joint working group meeting.