Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to visit Egypt in the first quarter of 2026 to chair the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, Egypt's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, following diplomatic talks that also prioritised a proposal for a temporary Palestinian administrative body in Gaza. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate telephone conversations with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to coordinate on regional conflicts and the strengthening of bilateral strategic ties. In his call with Fidan, Abdelatty emphasised that the upcoming presidential visit would build on the recent momentum in Egyptian-Turkish relations, aiming to boost economic cooperation, trade volumes, and mutual investments. Addressing the conflict in Gaza with both his Turkish and Saudi counterparts, Abdelatty called for the establishment of a temporary Palestinian technocratic committee to manage the daily affairs of citizens in the strip. This body is intended to serve as a transitional step before the Palestinian Authority resumes its full powers and responsibilities, according to ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf. Abdelatty stressed the importance of securing a permanent ceasefire and transitioning to the second phase of peace frameworks. He further advocated for the deployment of an international stability force and the initiation of early recovery and reconstruction efforts. The minister expressed total rejection of any measures that undermine Palestinian territorial integrity or Israeli violations in the West Bank. In discussions with Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Abdelatty reviewed ongoing preparations for the inaugural meeting of the Egyptian-Saudi Supreme Coordination Council. The two ministers discussed the crisis in Sudan, affirming the need for a comprehensive ceasefire and the creation of safe humanitarian corridors through the "Quartet" mechanism to ensure the delivery of aid and the preservation of Sudanese state institutions. Regarding the situation in Syria, Abdelatty and Fidan exchanged assessments on recent developments. The Egyptian minister urged a comprehensive political solution that maintains the unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian state, stressing that dialogue and de-escalation are the only paths to stability. The calls concluded with agreements to maintain close consultation on regional challenges, including developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, to support stability and protect shared interests.
