Egypt, Turkey vying for clout
Turkey has loudly criticized the Egyptian regime, pointing to a growing competition between the two countries for prominence.
CAIRO — Turkey and Egypt, rivals for influence in the Middle East and Africa, are trading insults once again.
On Feb. 27, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly criticized Turkey's president, who had described Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime as “totalitarian” for executing nine people.
On Feb. 24, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said he would refuse to meet with Sisi — though he hadn't been invited to — and added that the Egyptian judiciary lacks integrity.
Relations between Ankara and Cairo have been tense for years, since the Egyptian army toppled Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated President Mohammed Morsi after a wave of popular protests against his rule in 2013. While Cairo considers the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group, Turkey hosts many of the organization’s members and considers it peaceful.
