Turkey and Egypt are transforming a once-fraught relationship into a pragmatic partnership, driven by shared security concerns, Cairo's military modernization efforts and Ankara's ambitions to expand its defense exports.

Joint military exercises between Egypt and Turkey are the latest sign of the growing defense cooperation between the two Mediterranean powers. Since the two countries held their first joint naval exercise in 13 years in the eastern Mediterranean in September, the cooperation has expanded into the air. Egyptian-Turkish joint air force training began in Egypt last week. Turkey’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that the Turkish Air Force would host the first Turkey-Azerbaijan-Egypt “Trilateral Eagle” exercise in Turkey from June 22 to July 3.

Ankara and Cairo’s rapprochement has gathered pace in recent years, particularly after Ankara launched a broader foreign policy reset in 2021 aimed at reducing isolation and attracting foreign investment amid economic pressure at home. Relations between the two sharply deteriorated after Cairo’s 2013 ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood-led government of Mohamed Morsi. Ambassador-level relations were restored in July 2023, marking a formal breakthrough after a decade of tensions, with momentum continuing to build following the war in Gaza.

Defense industry cooperation