Abdülaziz cultivated good relations with the Second French Empire and the British Empire.
Also in 1867, Abdülaziz became the first Ottoman Sultan to formally recognize the title of Khedive (Viceroy) to be used by the Vali (Governor) of the Ottoman Eyalet of Egypt and Sudan (1517-1867), which thus became the autonomous Ottoman Khedivate of Egypt and Sudan (1867-1914).