Ashraf AboArafe
Cairo – In a solemn yet festive atmosphere, the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Cairo hosted a special celebration marking the 103rd anniversary of Victory Day on August 30, also known as Turkish Armed Forces Day. The reception, held at the Ambassador’s residence, brought together prominent Egyptian guests, Turkish citizens, foreign ambassadors, military attachés, and members of the Egyptian press.
In his opening remarks, Turkish Ambassador to Cairo Salih Mutlu Şen underlined that the Turkish Armed Forces, like the Egyptian Army, are among the strongest and most respected in the world. He stressed that Türkiye’s military will continue to safeguard the nation’s borders, uphold the highest levels of deterrence, and contribute to international peace and security through active roles in organizations such as NATO and the United Nations
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Ambassador Şen highlighted that Türkiye has achieved 85% self-sufficiency in defense production, noting that Ankara is committed to sharing its defense expertise and technologies with friendly and allied nations — particularly Egypt.
He emphasized the immense potential for Turkish–Egyptian cooperation in defense industries, citing Egypt’s historic industrial capabilities and advanced infrastructure, including the Arab Organization for Industrialization, the Ministry of Military Production, and the “Kader” Factory.
The Ambassador pointed to the recent agreement between Turkish defense firm Havelsan and the Arab Organization for Industrialization to jointly produce a vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle as a “turning point” in bilateral defense cooperation.
He also noted Türkiye’s expanded participation in the EDEX International Defense Exhibition, rising from 24 companies last year to more than 70 Turkish defense firms this year — a reflection of Ankara’s growing commitment to Cairo in this sector.
Concluding his address, Ambassador Şen praised the Egyptian Armed Forces as a cornerstone institution with deep traditions and professionalism, respected not only in Türkiye but across the globe. He affirmed that the Turkish and Egyptian militaries, bound by shared traditions and intertwined histories, stand as vital guarantors of stability and security in their regions.
