Cairo: The Egyptian and Turkish leaders have firmly rejected any efforts to circumvent or disrupt the US peace plan for Gaza. In a joint press conference, Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized their commitment to halting unilateral actions in occupied territories and maintaining the legal and historical status of Jerusalem's holy sites. According to Kuwait News Agency, the summit addressed recent developments in the Gaza Strip following successful negotiations involving Egypt, Turkiye, Qatar, and the United States, resulting in the "Sharm El-Sheikh" agreement to cease hostilities. The leaders praised US President Donald Trump's role in facilitating the agreement and stressed the importance of its implementation in line with Security Council Resolution 2803, which calls for humanitarian aid delivery and preventing escalation. President Al-Sisi highlighted the commitment to a two-state solution based on international resolutions and discussed bilateral co operation progress since the first Strategic Cooperation Council meeting in Ankara in 2024. Discussions included trade exchanges, with Egypt being Turkiye's top African trading partner, and efforts to increase trade volume to USD 15 billion. The leaders also addressed the conflict in Sudan, advocating for a humanitarian truce and a comprehensive political process. They discussed other African issues, emphasizing the unity and sovereignty of Somalia and the importance of supporting stability in Libya through a UN-led process and national solutions. In Syria, President Al-Sisi reiterated support for unity and sovereignty, welcoming a recent agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces. Regional tensions, including the Iranian nuclear file and the Ukrainian crisis's economic impacts, were also discussed, with a focus on ensuring food and energy security. Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson, Ambassador Mohamad Al-Shenawy, noted that the leaders signed a joint statement and multiple M emoranda of Understanding in various sectors after the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, further strengthening bilateral ties.
