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Tension keeps rising in Cairo over Turkey-Sudan island pact

The Turkish-Sudanese deal over Suakin Island has sparked angry reactions to the possibility of Turkey building a military base on the island, posing a threat to Egypt’s national security.

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Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir welcomes Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Khartoum Airport, Sudan, Dec. 24, 2017. — REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

January is Egypt's coldest month as far as temperatures go, but things are heating up rapidly there over Turkey's recent deal to lease Suakin Island from Sudan.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey just plans to renovate the island and restore Ottoman relics. But Egypt, as well as Saudi Arabia, fears Ankara's plans go much further, to include a military base that could threaten their security.

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