Israeli talk of concern over the trajectory of Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement coincides with an official visit, the first of its kind, by Egyptian Defense Minister Ashraf Salem Zahar to Turkey, amid Hebrew claims that Ankara is shipping attack drones to Cairo.

This concern, which Israel expresses through 'baseless claims,' will continue, according to a military and strategic expert who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, until the end of the upcoming Israeli elections in October, as the current government seeks any issues to occupy the domestic front.

The Hebrew platform 'Natziv Net,' specializing in military and intelligence affairs, claimed the existence of a Turkish air bridge transporting advanced attack drones to the West Owainat base in Egypt after taking off from the Bayraktar drone production center in Turkey, considering this 'evidence of deepening military cooperation between Cairo and Ankara amid their intervention in regional crises.'

These claims are not the first to escalate regarding the Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement that 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 indicating that Egypt and Turkey 'are quietly working to enhance broad military cooperation that may include arms deals that could change the balance of power.'

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

Israel's crisis

Counselor at the Command and Staff College and military and strategic expert Major General Osama Kabeer believes that Israel is experiencing a severe internal crisis whose effects will become clear in October with the elections, in which the Israeli government is likely to fall if there are no wars in the region. He pointed out that 'Israeli claims will continue until the election results, and will stop if Benjamin Netanyahu falls.'

Kabeer affirmed that what Tel Aviv claims about Egyptian-Turkish relations is 'talk aimed at domestic consumption, an attempt to create an illusory danger to scare the public, and spreading false information to sway Israeli public opinion and ensure the survival of the current government.'

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

The new Israeli claims come the day after the Egyptian defense minister's visit, who held a meeting on Monday with his Turkish counterpart Yaşar Güler in Ankara, according to what the Turkish Ministry of Defense posted on its Facebook page, where it published a photo showing the two ministers inspecting drone structures.

Turkish Ambassador to Cairo Salih Mutlu Şen stated 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 country 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, Egyptian Army Chief of Staff Ahmed Khalifa paid an official visit to Turkey, during which he met his Turkish counterpart Metin Gürak, as part of the fourth meeting of the Joint Military Committee between the two countries. They discussed ways to develop military cooperation, especially in the fields of training and exchange of expertise.

Development of cooperation

Military cooperation between Egypt and Turkey has seen remarkable development since 2023 with the return of full diplomatic relations and 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 the joint manufacture of drones, and Cairo joined the Turkish fifth-generation stealth fighter program 'KAAN'.

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

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 takeoff and landing drones.

Flourishing cooperation

Regarding the nature of the relationship between Cairo and Ankara, Osama Kabeer stresses 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 a military alliance. What brings Egypt and Turkey together is flourishing military cooperation including 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 that 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 stressed that they are of great importance in the context of cooperation and ensuring the security and stability of the region.