Cairo Egypt Saturday warned it would take unspecified “escalatory” steps in its already- strained relations with Ankara after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the Egyptian government’s reaction to Israel’s deadly offensive in the Gaza Strip.
“At the time when Egypt has given on chance after the other to the Turkish leadership to give precedence to common interests of the two friendly countries and peoples over ideological considerations, the continuing transgression against Egypt and its elected leadership will undoubtedly prompt Egypt to take further measures,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry added that it would summon the Turkish charge d’affaires in Cairo for the second time in a week to “convey to him a strong message of protest at these transgressions”.
Erdogan, an ally of Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, has said that Egypt has no “sincere” stance towards the Palestinian problem. Erdogan was also quoted as calling Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi a “despot”.
“These (Erdogan’s) statements are part of the Turkish leadership’s unacceptable and fully rejected interference in Egypt’s internal affairs. They constitute disregard to historical facts and Egypt’s role and stands in defending the Palestinian cause,” the ministry said.
Ties between Cairo and Ankara have soured since July last year when the army, led at the time by Al Sissi, toppled Islamist president Mohammad Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood. Al Sissi took office last month after a landslide win in a presidential election.
Egypt last November expelled the Turkish ambassador and downgraded diplomatic links with Ankara to the charge d’affaires level.
