Egypt, Turkey agree to cooperate on defence industries

Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production Salah Soliman Gembalat and Turkey’s deputy defence minister witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday between Egyptian and Turkish companies to cooperate in the defence industries sector.

The MoU was signed by Egypt’s Heliopolis Chemical Industries Company (Military Factory 81) and Helwan Company for Engineering Industries (Military Factory 99), both affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production, and Turkey’s Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE).

The signing took place on the sidelines of the First Balkan Shield Industrial Expo and Summit 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first international defence industry exhibition.

According to a statement by the Egyptian ministry, the MoU was signed “as part of the Ministry of Military Production’s efforts to expand its industrial partnerships with friendly countries and strengthen international cooperation in areas of common interest”.

READ: Israeli report: Egypt may acquire Russian S-400 missiles through deal with Turkey

Gembalat said the signing “opens new opportunities for industrial partnership” between the ministry’s affiliated companies and their Turkish counterparts, in line with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s directives to build strategic partnerships with friendly countries.

He said the cooperation would draw on the two sides’ advanced expertise and capabilities in the defence industries, allowing them to exchange technical and technological expertise and make use of their available manufacturing capabilities.

For his part, Turkey’s deputy defence minister said Egyptian-Turkish relations were developing, stressing the two countries’ commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in pursuit of their shared interests.

He praised the progress made by Egypt’s defence industries, noting that Turkey is one of the world’s leading countries in defence manufacturing and is keen to strengthen cooperation with friendly countries.

READ: Natural gas, corridors, and security: Why Turkey wants Egypt in the Mecca Pact