Egypt FM Sameh Shoukry conducted a state visit to Syria and Turkey on Monday that realigned soured relations after a hiatus that lasted over ten years. The top Egyptian diplomat traveled to these nations to show solidarity after tragedies from the quakes which devastated them when it struck on February 6.
Egypt FM Visits Syria, Turkey
Shoukry stated that Cairo would assist its brothers when the damage caused by the quake needs lots of help, reports Al Arabiya. Casualties in the quake hit thousands as the 7.8 magnitude earthquake left many dead and without shelter. The initial visit will be in Damascus, meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after the start of the civil war in the country in 2011. It caused the exodus of many Syrians from the war-torn nation.
Political isolation has hampered interaction with the Arab League due to the alleged anti-democracy crackdown, which led to Damascus becoming a pariah. Middle Eastern nations withdrew their envoys, which meant political isolation for Assad, noted VOA News.
After using illegal chlorine gas to attack civilians, the US used it as a pretext to sanction the Assad regime. The isolation of Damascus might end as the quake made the plight of the Syrian people cast aside the former political backdrop that the west controls. Many countries are giving Damascus the help it needs in the millions of dollars even as the US uses the situation it brought up, citing France24.
Syria has suffered a combination of the ravages of its civil war and a natural calamity that killed 6,000 people, leaving more homeless. Some critics have noted the disaster is a golden time to reverse Assad's fortunes, not to assist the horrific quakes aftermath. The calamity has led to a surge of diplomacy to reestablish Damascus's credibility on the global stage as well.
Last February 7, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi called the Syrian leader the first words spoken after ten years. Afterward, Egypt's parliament speaker Hanafi Gibali met the Syrian leader with other regional officials. Most Arab leaders have called Damascus, and diplomats visited with aid mainly from sources other than the west.
Ankara and Cairo Realigns Relations
Cairo called the Muslim brotherhood terrorists that gave support to the temporary Mursi government. After the fall of Mursi, many of the Muslim Brotherhood elements went to Istanbul after being outlawed by Cairo.
The two Arab nations have not conversed since Tayyip Erdogan has been avoiding the Egyptian government led by Sisi, installed by the Egyptian army in 2013.
Turkish government realized that normal relation with major players in the region is needed. Relaxing old sentiments with conciliatory messages has paid off with more direct connections. Sisi told Erdogan his condolences after the calamity.
Erdogan and the Sisi regime have fought over maritime control and offshore resources with supporting Libyan groups in the civil conflict. Ankara and Cairo are mending ties with less opposition to each other in 2021.
Egyptian FM Sameh Shoukry went to Syria to support Assad and to Turkey as Egypt as a signal that hostilities are less against Sisi.
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