Israeli concern prevails over the course of rapprochement between Egypt and Turkey, coinciding with the first-of-its-kind official visit of Egyptian Defense Minister Ashraf Salem Zaher to Ankara, amid Hebrew accusations that Turkey is transferring attack drones to Cairo.

These developments come within the framework of improving bilateral relations after a political rift lasting more than twelve years.

A military and strategic expert told Asharq Al-Awsat that this Israeli concern, which it expresses through 'baseless allegations,' will continue until the Israeli elections next October, at a time when the government is looking for issues that occupy public opinion.

The Hebrew military affairs platform 'Natsiv Net' claimed the existence of a Turkish airbridge transporting advanced attack drones to the West Al-Owainat base in Egypt, considering that 'this is evidence of deepening military cooperation between Cairo and Ankara in light of their intervention in regional crises.'

These are not the first allegations to escalate regarding the Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement, which grew in 2023 following understandings that ended a political rift lasting more than 12 years. Last June, the Israeli newspaper Maariv claimed that US intelligence had detected unusual activity, suggesting that Egypt and Turkey are 'quietly working to enhance broad military cooperation that may include arms deals that change the balance of power.'

Last May, Maariv also published an article by retired General Yitzhak Brick, who did not rule out Tel Aviv entering a 'difficult war' against the Turkish-Egyptian alliance, as the two countries strengthen their military capabilities. He affirmed then that any military rapprochement between Egypt and Turkey could redraw the deterrence maps in the region and put Israel before new security challenges requiring a comprehensive reassessment of its military doctrine and defensive strategies.

Israel's crisis

Advisor at the Command and Staff College, military and strategic expert Major General Osama Kabeer believes that Israel is living a severe internal crisis whose effects will become clear next October with the elections, which are likely to bring down the Israeli government if there are no wars in the region, noting that 'Israeli allegations will continue until the election results, and will stop if Benjamin Netanyahu falls.'

Kabeer confirmed that what Tel Aviv claims regarding Egyptian-Turkish relations is 'talk aimed at domestic consumption, an attempt to create an imaginary danger to scare the public, and spreading misinformation to stir Israeli public opinion, and to ensure the survival of the current government.'

Egyptian Defense Minister in Turkey at the head of a high-level military delegation (Turkish Defense Ministry)

The new Israeli allegations come a day after the visit of the Egyptian Defense Minister, who held a meeting on Monday with his Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler in Ankara, according to what the Turkish Defense Ministry reported on its Facebook page, where it published a photo showing the two ministers inspecting drone structures.

Turkish Ambassador to Cairo Salih Mutlu Şen said that 'the two ministers signed a letter of intent for defense cooperation, within the framework of strengthening military cooperation relations between the two countries.'

At the beginning of this month, Mutlu Şen said in a press conference at the embassy that 'security cooperation and military relations between Turkey and Egypt are going very well,' stressing that 'the growing relations between the Turkish and Egyptian armies will contribute, in a broader sense, to the peace, security and stability of the region and the entire world.'

On Sunday, the Egyptian army announced in a statement that the Defense Minister 'left the homeland heading to Turkey at the head of a high-level military delegation on an official visit at the invitation of the Turkish Defense Minister, to hold a number of talks to support prospects for military cooperation between the armed forces of both countries in many fields.'

Last May, the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Army, Ahmed Khalifa, paid an official visit to Turkey, during which he met with his Turkish counterpart Metin Gürak, within the activities of the fourth meeting of the Joint Military Committee between the two countries. Ways to develop military cooperation were discussed, especially in the fields of training and exchange of expertise.

Development of cooperation

Military cooperation between Egypt and Turkey has witnessed notable development since 2023 with the return of full diplomatic relations and the exchange of presidential visits, which reflected on the field of defense industries. The two countries resumed joint exercises 'Sea of Friendship' and agreed on cooperation in joint manufacturing of drones. Cairo also joined the Turkish fifth-generation stealth aircraft program 'KAAN.'

Part of the meeting of the Turkish Defense Minister and his Egyptian counterpart in Ankara (Turkish Defense Ministry)

Last February, Egypt and Turkey signed a 'military cooperation agreement' in Cairo in the presence of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was visiting the Egyptian capital at the time. In August 2025, Egypt and Turkey signed an agreement for joint manufacturing of vertical take-off and landing drones.

Thriving cooperation

Regarding the nature of the relationship between Cairo and Ankara, Osama Kabeer affirms that Egyptian-Turkish cooperation is required and necessary, given the political, military, and historical weight of the two countries.

He stresses the need to distinguish between military cooperation and military alliance. What brings Egypt and Turkey together is thriving military cooperation that includes joint exercises, military manufacturing, exchange of military attachés, and coordination on regional issues, not an alliance in the sense that obliges them to enter into joint wars.

In this regard, he pointed to the 'Sea of Friendship' maneuvers, which were resumed between the two countries last September after a 12-year hiatus, in addition to mutual diplomatic and military visits, and coordination between intelligence agencies and political leaderships. He affirms that they carry great importance within the framework of cooperation and ensuring the security and stability of the region.

These Israeli allegations raise questions about the impact of Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement on the balance of power in the Middle East, especially with the approaching Israeli elections. Observers believe that the continuation of these claims reflects a state of concern in Tel Aviv about potential military cooperation between Cairo and Ankara that could change regional deterrence equations.