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World leaders convened in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday for a peace summit aimed at solidifying the ceasefire in Gaza and charting a path toward stability in the Middle East.
More than 20 heads of state attended the "Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit," co-hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the gathering, conducting a series of bilateral meetings on the summit's sidelines.
The summit seeks to end the war in Gaza Strip, strengthen efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and open a new chapter for regional security and stability, organizers said.
Trump completed a seven-hour visit to Israel before flying to Egypt, arriving approximately three hours behind schedule. His aircraft landed in Sharm el-Sheikh after departing from Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
Speaking alongside Sisi before the summit, Trump discussed the ceasefire negotiations. "Hamas played a very important role. Hamas respects this country. So I'm grateful," Trump said. "The hostages have returned now. Negotiations for the second phase have also begun."
Trump addressed Gaza's reconstruction needs, saying, "We're looking at Gaza, there's a lot of cleanup work here. They're really doing a great job."
When asked about sanctions on Iran, Trump responded: "Of course they need some help. We're applying very strict sanctions. If we hadn't hit their nuclear facilities, there would be no deal."
The Turkish president met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss bilateral relations and the situation in Gaza, according to a statement from Türkiye's Presidential Communications Directorate.
Erdogan told Macron that Türkiye remains determined to develop cooperation with France in all areas. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza and rebuilding the territory, adding that Türkiye continues its humanitarian aid to end the crisis in the region without interruption.
Erdogan underscored the importance of a two-state solution for lasting peace, the statement said.
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Erdogan arrived at Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport aboard the presidential aircraft and proceeded to the International Exhibition Center, where the summit was held. Sisi greeted him at the entrance, and the two leaders shook hands and spoke briefly.
Before the signing ceremony and main summit session, Erdogan conducted bilateral meetings with several leaders. He met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Jordan's King Abdullah II.
During a photo opportunity with Macron and Starmer, Erdogan gestured toward the British prime minister and said, "Good man."
When Italian Prime Minister Meloni mentioned she had seen him from her plane upon landing, Erdogan replied, "You look good, but I need to get you to quit smoking."
Earlier in the day, Erdogan received Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates and Deputy Prime Minister, according to the Presidential Communications Directorate. The meeting addressed bilateral relations between Türkiye and the UAE, as well as regional and global issues.
Erdogan told the Emirati leader that developing political relations between the two countries also contributes to cooperation in trade and investment, and that they are making efforts to advance in other areas, particularly defense industry cooperation.
The Turkish president stated that Türkiye has been working to end the genocide in Gaza and that a window of opportunity for lasting peace has opened, which must be utilized effectively.
The gathering includes heads of state from Egypt, the United States, Türkiye, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Palestine, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, France, and Cyprus, among others.
Germany, Iraq, Britain, Italy, Spain, Greece, Armenia, Hungary, Pakistan, Canada, Norway, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are expected to participate at the prime ministerial level.
Also attending are Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, European Council President Antonio Costa, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Japan's Ambassador to Cairo, Fumio Iwai.
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