Turkey-Egypt relations :1922-1981

Like in the world history, Egypt has been a strategic region where important events and phenomena occured in the Turkish history as well. Turkey-Egypt relations was laid the base with Turkish domination in Egypt after the Ottoman domination. Kavalalı Mehmet Ali Pasha and his family who represents the Turkish dynastry were supposed to leave an unforgettable trace in the Egyptian history. With the continuation of the dynastry, public in the Egypt would take an example by Turkish?s war of independence and Turkish-Egyptian publics would share the same fate. Especially, some secular reforms like abolition of the caliphate would couse some negative effects on Egypt public after the independence of Turkey. Egyptian people who gained the struggle of independence against Britain in 1922 would have a long war against the West since that time to be fully independent. Egyptian people and junior officers in Egyptian army were not pleased for this situation. The displeasure would result with the military dash of the free officers and it would conduce to enterance of Nasır who will change the status quo to the history scene. Although Turkey-Egypt relations was good especially during Ataturk?s period until the cold war and Turkey supported the Egypt people, Turkey got closer to the west due to the threat perception that would come espicially from the Soviet Union to Turkey. This convergence would remove Turkey from Arabian Middle East especially Egypt. The first Arabian-Israeli War which have just occured after Jewishs established Israeli government in 1948 changed the balance in the Middle East. Since Turkey as being the first Islamic government have legitimised Israeli and since Turkey followed Israeli-sided policies, Turkey-Egypt relations would come to the reaking point. Turkey has understood that it must regard its Egyptian and Arabian relationships since both the West and Arabian countries had attitudes opposed to Turkey especially about the Cyprus issue on the international politics. Turkey which got considerable reactions from Egypt after some constitutions with the guidance of the West like Middle East Command and Baghdad Pact would make some changes in its Middle East policies. Turkey has shown this perceptibly with poised behaviours in Suez War and with the supporting decisions for Egypt when needed. Although Nasır saw Turkey as its strongest opponent in Arabian Middle East besides he blaimed Turkey as being West follower, Turkey-Egypt relations would be better with Enver Sedat?s rational foreign policies. Key Words 1. Turkey 2. Egypt 3. Gamal Abdel Nasser 4. Middle East 5. Suez Channel