Turkey and Egypt signed a $350 million arms contract on February 5, 2026. The deal covers air defense systems, ammunition production tech, and related equipment from Turkish manufacturers like Roketsan and Aselsan, marking a thaw in historically strained relations.
Egypt, Africa's top military spender, seeks to diversify suppliers beyond the US and Russia amid regional threats in Libya and the Red Sea. Turkish officials hailed it as mutual benefit, with joint factories planned for local ammo output. The agreement includes training and maintenance support, boosting bilateral trade now exceeding $10 billion annually.
Cairo emphasized self-reliance in defense, while Ankara eyes Egypt as a key Arab market. Analysts link the pact to shared interests against non-state actors and energy security. No delivery timelines or exact equipment lists were disclosed publicly.
Israel voiced concerns over Egypt's military growth amid the deal, with Netanyahu warning in a Knesset session that "the Egyptian army is building its strength, and this needs to be monitored" to track regional power shifts.
