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Egypt's ambassador to Türkiye, Wael Badawi, said Egypt and Türkiye are strategic partners and key regional and international actors working together to promote stability and peace across the region.
In an interview with Anadolu, Badawi said cooperation between the two countries extends beyond political issues such as Gaza and Iran to include the environment, culture and the economy.
Badawi, who arrived in Ankara in September 2025, said Egypt and Türkiye celebrated the centenary of diplomatic relations last year, while noting that ties between the two countries date back centuries and are reinforced by strong people-to-people relations.
He said the breadth of cooperation requires close coordination across many fields and is reflected in frequent high-level visits.
Recalling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Egypt on Feb. 4, where he met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Badawi said the leaders held the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and signed memorandums of understanding in several areas.
"We are happy to have this strategic partnership between Egypt and Türkiye. It is a strategic partnership. It is a symbol of cooperation. It really testifies to the strength of the relation between the two countries," he said.
Badawi said Egypt's commander-in-chief of the armed forces and minister of defense and military production, Lt. Gen. Ashraf Salim Zahir, visited Ankara last week to strengthen cooperation in defense and the defense industry.
"You have a very developed defense industry. In Egypt too, we have a quite advanced defense industry, and therefore, we are trying to see how both countries can cooperate in this area," he said.
He added that the two countries also aim to deepen cooperation in areas including the environment, trade, education and science, with additional high-level visits planned to advance practical collaboration.
Badawi said Egypt and Türkiye, as leading regional actors, are working together to promote stability and peace.
"Egypt and Türkiye are major regional players and international players. They are both strong countries, and they work together for stability and peace in the region, promoting peace, comprehensive and sustainable development, and safeguarding respect for international law," he said.
He said a platform bringing together Egypt, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan seeks to explore ways to cooperate economically, socially and politically for the benefit of the region's people.
Badawi said Cairo and Ankara cooperate not only on Gaza but also on the broader Palestinian issue.
"We also witnessed the atrocities and what happened after the seventh of October. It is really a tragedy," he said.
He added that the two countries work together both bilaterally and through regional frameworks, while sharing common cultural, social and family values.
Badawi said both countries remain committed to a two-state solution for Palestine.
"We are both working for the two-state solution for Palestine. We both oppose and reject any attempts to have Palestinians leave their country," he said.
"This is their country. The hospitals need to be rehabilitated. The schools need to be rehabilitated. There has to be a reconstruction effort," he added.
Referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza peace initiative, Badawi said Egypt and Türkiye are working together to support its implementation.
"We are still in phase one of this plan. We want to move to phase two, but Israel still needs to honor its obligations in phase one so that we can move to phase two," he said.
Badawi said Israel's military actions in Lebanon remain a concern.
"We emphasize and stress the need for full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon," he said.
On Syria, Badawi said Egypt strongly condemns and rejects Israeli incursions and the occupation of Syrian territory.
"Israel must withdraw from the Syrian territories it occupies," he said.
"We strongly ask for respect for Syria's territorial integrity and national sovereignty. This is very important for us," he added.
Commenting on continued tensions between the United States and Iran, Badawi said Egypt's position aligns with Türkiye's.
"There can be no military solution to this conflict. It has to be done through diplomacy," he said.
He noted that Egypt and Türkiye are working together to encourage the implementation of the memorandum of understanding reached by the parties.
"We all have an interest in getting both parties to sit together again and see how we can implement what has been agreed upon in this memorandum of understanding," he said.
Badawi said renewed diplomacy is essential for regional stability and the global economy.
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Badawi said he and his family immediately felt at home after arriving in Türkiye because of similarities between the two countries' social traditions.
"Türkiye is a beautiful country. Ankara is a beautiful capital, and we do not feel away from home. It is a home away from home," he said.
The ambassador said he has been studying Turkish since arriving in the country.
"Since I arrived, I took an intensive course in the Turkish language, and I am still working on that. It is a challenge, but it is very, very important," he said.
"There are many similar words in Turkish and Arabic, so it is interesting and challenging," he added.
Asked about his favorite Turkish expression, Badawi said: "I would say 'tesekkur ederim' (thank you) because it has an Arabic stem and it is a term I really like to use."
He said he had visited several Turkish cities but declined to name a favorite.
"I visited several cities in Türkiye, but it would be unfair to favor one over another because Türkiye is so diverse and rich in tourism destinations," he said.
"I went to Istanbul, which is very, very nice. I went to Bursa, which is beautiful and very particular. Ankara is also very modern, but I also like the Citadel (Ankara Castle)," he added.
Asked about Turkish cuisine, Badawi said, "Turkish cuisine is, of course, a very rich cuisine and very, very tasty. My favorite would be Turkish kebab."
Badawi said July 23 is an important national day for Egypt.
"This year, we are celebrating the 74th anniversary of the revolution that laid the ground for actual and total national independence and the establishment of a republic after the monarchy," he said.
"The revolution laid the ground for efforts to modernize Egypt, diversify the economy, ensure the protection of social rights, and the dignity of the Egyptian people," he added.
"Ever since then, we have sought balanced relations and partnerships with all countries of the world."
Badawi said the Egyptian Embassy hosted a National Day reception attended by senior Turkish officials, including Trade Minister Omer Bolat.
"The wide attendance testifies again to the rich and diverse cooperation that we have in all fields between Egypt and Türkiye, and above all, the friendship not only between the leaders of both countries but also between the people of both countries," he said.
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