The visit is set to include the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, a body restructured according to the Joint Declaration signed during President Erdoğan’s visit to Cairo on February 14, 2024. While the council aims to enhance cooperation between Türkiye and Egypt, the meeting is clouded by the controversial legacy of el-Sisi’s rule, marked by the suppression of the Muslim Brotherhood and widespread human rights abuses.

President Erdoğan, who has previously criticized el-Sisi's regime for its brutal crackdown on dissent and its role in the persecution of Muslim Brotherhood members, will host the council meeting where all aspects of Türkiye-Egypt relations will be reviewed. However, many are watching closely to see how President Erdoğan, known for his vocal support of democratic movements in the Muslim world, will address the ongoing repression in Egypt.Beyond bilateral relations, the talks are expected to cover regional and global issues, particularly the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. Given el-Sisi’s history of cooperation with Israel, the discussions may reveal differences in approach to the Palestinian cause, an issue central to both nations but viewed through very different lenses.

During the visit, several legal documents are expected to be signed, potentially formalizing cooperation between the two countries. However, for many supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and advocates of democracy in the region, the focus remains on the hope that President Erdoğan will use this opportunity to press el-Sisi on his government's repressive policies and to stand up for the rights of the oppressed in Egypt. (ILKHA)