Libya derails Egypt-Turkey rapprochement
Egypt-Turkey talks to normalize their relations were halted in the wake of Ankara’s recent oil deal with Libya's Tripoli-based government.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Oct. 29 that talks with Turkey to heal their yearslong political rift have come to a halt over Turkish policies in neighboring Libya.
“Talks with Turkey were not resumed because there was no change in terms of Turkish practices,” Shoukry told the Saudi Al-Arabiya channel.
“A main issue of concern is that foreign forces have not yet departed Libya and no decisive measures have been taken to achieve this goal,” he continued.
Egypt’s relations with Turkey nosedived in 2013 following the overthrow of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi. Ankara was a main supporter of the Brotherhood, which Cairo blacklisted as a terrorist group.
