Analysis: Why Turkey's Erdogan appeases Egypt?

An Egyptian official source said, on March 12, that there is no “resumption of diplomatic talks" between Cairo and Ankara, in a response to Turkey’s recent statements.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that cooperation between his country and Egypt in the fields of intelligence, diplomacy and the economy continues.

The Egyptian official source added that "the Egyptian and Turkish diplomatic missions exist at the charge d'affaires level in accordance with founded diplomatic norms."

He stressed that the friendship between the Egyptian and Turkish peoples is “great.”

Erdogan’s statements, reported by the official Turkish Anadolu Agency, came hours after his Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, spoke of Ankara starting diplomatic contacts with Cairo.

Cavusoglu added, "We have contacts with Egypt at the level of intelligence or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." The Turkish Foreign Minister said that the resumption of the relationship will take place in small steps, according to a specific strategy.

Relations between Egypt and Turkey have been severed for more than eight years, due to several files, most notably Turkey's policy in the Mediterranean, support for the Muslim Brotherhood and intervention in Libya.

As an observer, I would wonder why Turkey seeks to resume contacts with Egypt and its political leadership, led by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

In this report, I shall sum up in brief why Erdogan has to normalize relations with Cairo as follows: 

First: Libya is one of the primary reasons that forced Erdogan to appease Egypt, following Sisi's firm statements about the redlines of Sirte-Jufra. Ankara was denounced by world countries for sending Syrian mercenaries to fight in Tripoli.

Second: Founding members of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) announced the last week bringing the forum’s statute into force starting March in a ministerial meeting in the Egyptian capital. The forum will contribute to developing a sustainable regional gas market and maximizing the use of gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean region with full respect to the member states’ right over their natural resources in accordance with international law. This step may hinder Ankara's aspirations in the Mediterranean.

Third: The Turkish lira hit a new record low against the US dollar and the euro despite the months-long failed interventions of state banks and Turkey’s Central Bank (CBRT) to prop up the currency and keep it pegged. This is another burden on Erdogan's shoulders.

All these reasons push Erdogan to re-adopt the so-called zero-problems policy with his neighboring countries. He has to lift the burdens that he brought in.