BICOM

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Egypt yesterday and received a warm welcome from Egyptian leader Mohammed Hussein Tantawi and the Egyptian public. Erdogan is expected to address the Arab League later today in a speech aimed at the Muslim world. He is accompanied by a large military and commercial delegation and is expected to sign new accords with Egypt. Analysts see Erdogan’s visit as an attempt to burnish his image as the dominant Sunni leader in the Middle East and defender of the Palestinian cause.

During his trip to Egypt and Tunisia, Erdogan is expected to emphasise Turkey’s support to the popular movements and uprisings that have taken place in those countries. Erdogan’s diplomatic row with Israel should strengthen his standing and support when addressing the people in the country’s he is visiting, while Egyptian leaders will be wary of stoking any anti-Israel rhetoric following last week’s attack on the Israeli embassy in Cairo. Egypt, who receives strong financial backing and support from the US, needs to find an acceptable balance between popular Arab public opinion and holding onto Washington’s support.

Further reading:

• BICOM Analysis: Israel-Turkey relations after the palmer report
• BICOM Briefing: The storming of Israel’s Cairo embassy