Ankara aims to strengthen ties with Cairo through NATO
When NATO launched a military intervention in Libya in 2011, Egypt adopted a cautious stance because of concerns about the scope and intentions of the action. Cairo viewed the alliance's intervention as exacerbating Libya's instability, creating a larger security vacuum in the region. Turkiye, a NATO member, initially opposed the intervention, perceiving it as risky, but eventually joined in albeit reluctantly.
NATO's image in the Middle East has been contentious for decades, partly because of its intervention in Libya, which further fueled negative perceptions and mistrust among both the political elite and the general public. These perceptions were intensified by the lack of strategic dialogue between NATO and Egypt. However, Ankara, which is currently NATO's contact point with Egypt, is keen to strengthen ties between the alliance and Cairo and to contribute to increasing public awareness of this relationship.
The Turkish Embassy in Cairo hosted an event last week to discuss NATO-Egypt relations and the NATO contact point role that Turkiye and Italy will share. The event also focused on the NATO Southern Neighborhood Action Plan, which was adopted at the NATO summit in Washington in 2024. A joint initiative aimed at boosting ties between Egypt and NATO was launched at the event, which was viewed as the continuation of Egypt's long-standing policy of cooperating with the alliance without seeking membership.
Turkiye plays a significant role in NATO-Egypt relations. In the past, when those relations were strained, Turkiye blocked Egypt's partnership activities with NATO, to prevent Cairo developing a partnership with the alliance. In 2021, Turkiye removed its block and supported Egypt's progress to partnership with NATO as part of Mediterranean Dialogue, and its participation in all activities with NATO. This paved the way for the normalization of relations between Ankara and Cairo.
Since the 1990s, NATO has engaged closely with states in the Middle East, including Egypt, through its Mediterranean Dialogue. Established in 1994, it aims to facilitate political dialogue with Middle Eastern countries. As a NATO partner, Egypt engages in political dialogue with the alliance. NATO members issued a joint report last year asserting that Egypt was a strategic partner for peace, security and stability in the region. For Turkiye, Egypt is a key player in the eastern Mediterranean, an area of significant interest where Turkiye has high stakes.
The rapprochement between Cairo and Ankara has been significant for regional dynamics. The Gaza war in particular has played a pivotal role in consolidating their renewed relationship, as both view Israeli attacks as destabilizing. As ties were restored, both countries also made it clear that a priority for renewed cooperation would be stabilizing Libya. It is evident then that closer relations between Turkiye and Egypt also align with NATO's objectives and ambitions in the region and Libya presents an opportunity to strengthen their cooperation. NATO has expressed interest in helping build defense structures in Libya, but it requires cooperation with Egypt and Turkiye to do so effectively.
Egypt faces significant security concerns in Sinai, Libya, and Sudan, with Libya posing a particularly critical challenge. Libya continues to struggle with the aftermath of years of crises since the NATO intervention. While NATO and Egypt may differ on approaches to their objectives there, they have a common goal of stabilizing the country, a shared interest thatcould foster closer cooperation between them.
Turkiye supports NATO establishing partnerships with regional countries, including Egypt, to ease tensions that threaten regional stability through effective security and political collaboration. As a NATO member, Turkiye aims to play a crucial role in NATO's Middle Eastern strategy, with the priority being to enhance the security of regional states, rather than risking their security through more active involvement in resolving ongoing crises, including Libya.
Turkiye's interests in strengthening NATO-Egypt ties are driven by several key considerations, particularly regarding Libya and the eastern Mediterranean, where they have different agendas and partnerships. However, by improving their relations, they hope to turn challenges into opportunities.
First, Turkiye needs partners in the eastern Mediterranean, a region that plays a critical role in its foreign policy. Closer relations with Cairo may enhance Ankara's influence there, particularly on the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, from which Turkiye has been excluded. While Egypt is unlikely to jeopardize its existing partnerships in the region, improved ties with Ankara could at least prevent Cairo from actively aligning with initiatives that are against Turkiye's interests. The eastern Mediterranean is also strategically significant for NATO's southern flank.
Second, Turkiye seeks to transform Libya from a contested area into a space for cooperation with Egypt. Both Turkiye and Egypt are facing economic challenges, and the economic benefits of collaboration in Libya are a powerful force for their cooperation. For NATO, Libya's instability has allowed the rise of non-state actors and uncontrolled migration to Europe, making the country a major concern. Thus, Libya's significance in foreign policy considerations for Turkiye, Egypt, and NATO is related to strategic interests in the eastern Mediterranean, as well as migration routes.
Last, Turkiye seeks to strengthen its position within NATO by bridging the alliance's relations with Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt. The current state of relations between Egypt and Turkiye will undoubtedly affect the level of cooperation between Cairo and the alliance in the future.
• Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye's relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz
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