Turkey has struck a $350 million defense agreement with Egypt, Africa’s leading military power and the world’s 19th strongest, highlighting Cairo’s burgeoning defense ambitions and Ankara’s growing strategic drive into African security markets.
During President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official visit to Cairo and negotiations with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Turkey’s state-owned arms producer, Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE), and Egypt’s Ministry of Defense struck a deal.
According to Middle East Eye, the agreement includes ammunition exports and the creation of local production facilities in Egypt, placing the North African country as a possible regional manufacturing hub for military equipment.
According to a statement from Turkey’s defence ministry, MKE will deliver the Tolga Short-Range Air Defence System to Egypt for around $130 million.
The system is intended to identify, monitor, and neutralize airborne threats such as drones, low-flying aircraft, and new missile systems, which have become increasingly common in current combat zones.
The agreement also includes plans to create a 155mm long-range artillery ammunition plant in Egypt, as well as production lines for 7.62mm and 12.7mm ammunition.
According to sources, the remaining $220 million will go toward industry projects.
Both parties have agreed to form a joint venture business to manage the facilities and increase export opportunities throughout Africa and the Middle East.
The accord marks a significant breakthrough in Turkish-Egyptian relations after years of diplomatic friction following President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s 2013 military coup.
In 2023, the two countries began normalizing relations by appointing ambassadors and increasing high-level interactions, signaling a strategic reset between two of the region’s most powerful nations.
According to analysts, overlapping security concerns, such as the Sudan and Somalia crises, maritime security, and overall regional instability, have spurred defense cooperation.
Egypt’s expanding collaboration with Turkey reflects a broader trend in Africa, where major military countries are diversifying their defense partnerships rather than relying on a single supplier.
Algeria has traditionally sourced much of its military gear from Russia, but Morocco has strong defense connections with the United States.
Several other African countries have increasingly relied on China for equipment, funding, and military technology.
Against this context, Cairo appears to be pursuing a multi-faceted strategy aimed at improving operational readiness, increasing domestic production, and establishing itself as a regional defense manufacturing hub.
Erdoğan’s visit to Cairo is seen as a turning point in the reconciliation, with defense coordination emerging as a key component of the new partnership.