Mehmed Ali did not seek independence from the Ottomans until 1838

Evidence

Be that as it may, what is important to note is that independence was not one of the conditions set forth by Mehmed Ali when he met Halil Pasha in Alexandria; this demand was persistently demanded by Ibrahim Pasha in letters sent to his father from his camp near Konia, but was not voiced by Mehmed Ali himself until much later. When Halil Pasha arrived with an offer of peace in Alexandria on 21 January 1833, Mehmed did not intend to raise the issue of independence with him, not only because he was wondering about European reactions to this bold move, but more probably because he could not contemplate it himself. … These are not the actions of someone who intends to pass on to his negotiating partner that his are going to be difficult terms to meet. Having won a decisive military victory this would have been the time to press with his demands for independence assuming that this was his desire and that he had been contemplating secession right from the start. However, in his negotiations with Halil Pasha, Mehmed Ali did not raise the issue of independence; again it was Ibrahim who was urging his father to do so. Mehmed Ali started asking for independence only in 1838; back in 1833 he could still not think of himself as being outside of Ottoman authority altogether. The inconclusive nature of the peace of Kütahia, therefore, was representative of the Pasha’s own ambivalent feelings towards the Ottoman Sultan and towards his own military activities against him. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 257

Categorization

• XREF: Challenges the common framing of Ali as an incipient nationalist secessionist; connects to debates over when Egyptian separatism from the Ottoman Empire actually crystallized. — connects to: Muhammad Ali sought Egyptian independence from the Ottomans rather than mere provincial expansion; Mehmed Ali borrowed from the Ottomans as much as from the French; Mehmed Ali’s quest for independence was a dynastic struggle, not nationalist. (+13 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 257

Broader Connections

• Mehmed Ali framed his conquests as Ottoman reform, not rebellion, until 1838 #corroborates (0.85) — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 261
• Mehmed Ali hoped to gain Syria while remaining a pardoned Ottoman vassal #corroborates (0.80)
• The peace of Kütahia conceded territories but denied Mehmed Ali independence. #expands (0.75)
• Mehmed Ali’s wars may be internal Ottoman power struggles rather than nationalist bids #corroborates (0.70) — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 199
• The Sultan’s denial of Syria turned Mehmed Ali toward outright defiance #complicates (0.60)