Egypt, Türkiye Sign MoU to Expand Defence Industry Cooperation
SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA — WEB DESK: Egyptian state-owned military manufacturers and Türkiye’s Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at expanding cooperation in defence manufacturing, marking another step in the rapidly improving military relationship between Cairo and Ankara.
The agreement was signed on September 2 on the sidelines of the First Balkan Shield – Defence Industry Expo and Summit 2026, being held in Sarajevo from September 1 to 4. Egypt’s Minister of State for Military Production Salah Suleiman Gomblat and a Turkish deputy defence minister witnessed the signing ceremony.
Egyptian Military Factories Sign With Türkiye’s MKE
On the Egyptian side, the memorandum involves two companies affiliated with the Ministry of Military Production: Heliopolis Chemical Industries Company (Military Factory 81) and Helwan Engineering Industries Company (Military Factory 99).
Türkiye is represented by the state-owned Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation, or MKE, a major Turkish defence manufacturer.
Egypt’s official State Information Service said the agreement is intended to open new opportunities for industrial partnerships in areas of mutual interest.
The two sides plan to use their existing manufacturing capabilities and technical expertise while increasing the exchange of technological and professional knowledge.
No Specific Weapons Programme Announced
An important limitation is that the memorandum does not publicly identify a specific weapon system that Egypt and Türkiye will jointly manufacture.
The official Egyptian announcement refers broadly to cooperation in several fields, industrial partnerships, technical and technological expertise and better utilisation of manufacturing capabilities.
No value for the agreement was announced, and the statement did not specify production quantities, delivery schedules or a timetable for a joint manufacturing programme.
The deal should therefore be described as a framework for expanding defence-industrial cooperation, rather than a confirmed contract for particular missiles, ammunition, drones or other weapons.
Agreement Builds on July Defence Industry Framework
The Sarajevo memorandum is not the first recent agreement between Cairo and Ankara on defence production.
In July 2026, Türkiye and Egypt signed a separate letter of intent on defence industry cooperation during a visit to Ankara by Egyptian Defence and Military Production Minister Lt. Gen. Ashraf Salem Zaher.
Turkish defence industries chief Haluk Görgün said at the time that the document would establish a framework for future cooperation and potential joint capability development.
The two countries had also been expanding direct military-to-military engagement. In June, Egyptian and Turkish chiefs of staff co-chaired the fifth Egyptian-Turkish Military Cooperation Committee and signed a protocol covering joint activities and exchanges of expertise.
The latest MKE agreement therefore represents an additional implementation step within a broader defence rapprochement, rather than the beginning of military cooperation from scratch.
Egypt-Türkiye Relations Have Improved Sharply
The expanding defence relationship follows a wider diplomatic reconciliation between Egypt and Türkiye after years of strained relations.
The two governments have progressively restored high-level engagement and institutional cooperation. In February, their presidents reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations during the second meeting of the Egypt-Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
Defence manufacturing has increasingly emerged as one of the areas where the two countries see opportunities for deeper cooperation.
Gomblat said the Sarajevo memorandum reflected Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s direction to build strategic partnerships with friendly countries and expand international cooperation.
Türkiye’s deputy defence minister, meanwhile, praised the development of bilateral relations and Egypt’s progress in defence manufacturing, according to the Egyptian government account.
MKE Brings Turkish Manufacturing Expertise
MKE is one of Türkiye’s key state-owned defence manufacturers, with capabilities across ammunition, weapons systems and other military-industrial products.
Representatives of the Turkish company said Egypt’s military-production enterprises offered technological capabilities, manufacturing capacity and skilled personnel that could support future cooperation.
The Egyptian government similarly said combining the capabilities of companies on both sides could facilitate technical exchanges and more effective use of their respective manufacturing infrastructure.
The precise commercial and technological arrangements, however, will depend on follow-up agreements.
Separate From Possible Regional Defence Pact
The growing bilateral relationship also comes as Türkiye expands its wider regional security partnerships.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in August that Egypt could potentially join the defence agreement involving Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, describing Cairo’s eventual participation as possible.
However, the September 2 MKE memorandum is a separate bilateral defence-industry arrangement.
It should not be reported as confirmation that Egypt has joined the Türkiye-Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence pact.
The latest agreement concerns cooperation between Egyptian military-production companies and Türkiye’s MKE. There has been no announcement in connection with this memorandum that Egypt has become a member of a collective-defence alliance.
Defence Partnership Moves From Dialogue Toward Industry
The broader significance of the Sarajevo agreement lies in the progression of Egypt-Türkiye relations from diplomatic normalisation toward practical military and industrial cooperation.
The two sides have moved during 2026 through military-cooperation meetings, a defence-industry letter of intent and now a company-level memorandum involving major state-owned manufacturers.
For now, however, the agreement remains a memorandum of understanding.
Its longer-term importance will depend on whether it produces concrete joint manufacturing programmes, technology transfers, investment or procurement contracts.
