New Egyptian-Turkish defence partnership may shift regional power balance

Turkey’s defence company Aselsan has announced the opening of a regional representative office in Egypt under the name Aselsan Egypt to strengthen cooperation with Egypt and local partners.

The announcement was made by Aselsan’s chief executive officer, Ahmet Akyol, following the company’s participation in the Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX) 2025 in Cairo. Around 80 Turkish companies took part in the event. Akyol described the move as “a new chapter” in serving Egyptian partners directly through a permanent physical presence in the country.

The new office aims to support the delivery of services and technical assistance to the Egyptian armed forces and local clients. It will also focus on the joint development and production of defence systems, combining Aselsan’s expertise in military electronics with Egypt’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.

Akyol confirmed that the cooperation includes preliminary agreements with three Egyptian companies. These agreements are intended to develop into joint production and long-term cooperative activities. Official announcements of the jointly developed defence products are expected during the next edition of EDEX in 2027.

The move reflects growing momentum in Egyptian-Turkish relations, particularly in the defence sector. The wide participation of Turkish companies in the current exhibition highlights the depth of the strategic partnership between the two countries, alongside efforts to localise defence technology, generate jobs and strengthen regional self-sufficiency.

Military cooperation between Egypt and Turkey has developed significantly since 2023, following the full restoration of diplomatic relations and the exchange of presidential visits, which has had a clear impact on defence industries cooperation.