Saudi-Turkish relations stepping forward

An excellent relationship between Turkey and Saudi Arabia has been a breath of fresh air for the people of the two countries and has fueled the dreams of the people of this region in which Muslim countries come together in solidarity to solve the problems of the region and safeguard their interests against foreign plans and schemes.

Turkey-Saudi Arabia relations, acting on the common ground of safeguarding peace and stability in the region, are improving significantly in every field on the principle of mutual benefit. Saudi Arabia is one of the main actors in economic domain in Middle East.

Saudi Prince hailing Saudi-Turkish relations

Saudi Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on Wednesday hailed his country’s deep relations with Turkey.Saudi Prince Turki

Saudi Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on Wednesday hailed his country’s deep relations with Turkey.Saudi Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on Wednesday hailed his country’s deep relations with Turkey.

Speaking at the Seventh Bosporus Summit in Istanbul, Prince Turki said Saudi-Turkish relations should be stepped up even further.

“Relations between the leaders of the two countries should be maintained without mediators, as they used to be,” he said.

He said the Muslim world and longstanding Arab issues required the “strength” of both Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

“No outsider should be allowed to meddle in relations between the two countries,” he said.

The Saudi prince went on to assert that Saudi Arabia and Turkey shared identical views on most regional issues.

Regarding the years-long conflict in Syria, he said both Riyadh and Ankara “seek to support our Syrian brothers”.

Development of Turkey- Saudi Arabia Relations

Saudi Crown Prince’ visit to Turkey ‘sent strong message’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz in the Presidential palace on Friday, Sept. 30 during the crown prince’s two-day visit to Turkey. The meeting between the two leaders was aimed at further bolstering the strategic ties between the two regional heavyweights.

Erdogan said the Crown Prince’s visit to Ankara during “this critical time” sent a “strong message” of Saudi “solidarity” to Turkey. The Turkish leader also thanked Saudi King Salman’s government for its stance towards Ankara following the July failed coup.

The Crown Prince also expressed his gratitude over Turkey’s “warm welcome,” “generous hospitality” and Erdogan gifting him a medal. He considered the medal as a symbol representing “deep rooted friendship and brotherhood” between Saudi and Turkey.

“Turkey is a brotherly country for us. We always consider seriously that there should be strong and joint work between us because we actually need each other,” the Crown Prince said.  “We are being targeted… and we cannot ask them not to target us. However, what is important is to fortify ourselves as much as possible.”

High-level Turkish-Saudi meetings

In April, King Salman visited Turkey for his second visit in six months.

The uptick in high-level Turkish-Saudi meetings, say observers, reflects the mutual desire to communicate, exchange views and bolster bilateral cooperation.

This desire was manifested in an April agreement between Ankara and Riyadh to establish a team specifically tasked with strengthening bilateral trade ties.

Notably, Saudi Arabia tops the list of countries that supported the Turkish people and their democratically elected government against a July 15 coup attempt.

On Sept. 8, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir visited Turkey, where he was received by the Turkish president.

And last December, when President Erdogan made a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, the two countries agreed to establish a “Council for Strategic Cooperation”.

Like-minded

Both countries embrace similar policies, particularly in terms of the Palestinian cause and other “Islamic” issues.

On the Syria crisis, both countries share the same vision, agreeing on the inevitability of the Assad regime’s departure and support for the Syrian opposition — all the while stressing the need for a political solution that guarantees Syria’s unity and territorial integrity.

Turkey also backs a Saudi-led international coalition in support of Yemen’s legitimate government.

On the military front, relations have recently become increasingly close with both countries taking part in four joint war-games this year.

In June, Saudi forces participated in the ISIK-2016 military exercise held in Turkey’s Konya, along with two other military exercises conducted one month earlier.

Turkey, meanwhile, took part in the Northern Thunder military exercises held in northern Saudi Arabia in February and March.

In terms of counter-terrorism, Saudi warplanes in February landed at the Incirlik airbase in Turkey’s southern Adana province as part of a 60-nation coalition assembled to fight the Daesh terrorist group.

What’s more, in February, Turkish defense producer Aselsan inked a deal with the Saudi Technology Development and Investment Company (TAQNIA) to establish a joint venture for the development of electronic defense systems.

Turkey is also a prominent member of the Islamic military coalition against terrorism, the establishment of which Riyadh announced last December and which currently includes some 40 member-states.

Economic ties

Warming Turkish-Saudi ties also extend to the commercial and economic levels.

In this context, Saudi investors enjoy a special position in the Turkish economy, while Turkish investors have benefited from a host of infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia.

An active Saudi-Turkish Business Council, meanwhile, which includes entrepreneurs from both countries, continues to promote a robust trade relationship.

Experts, however, believe the full potential for bilateral trade cooperation has yet to be realized.

In this regard, Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yunus Demirer recently told Anadolu Agency that current economic relations should be bolstered to better reflect the two country’s burgeoning ties.

According to Demirer, the annual commercial exchange between Saudi Arabia and Turkey currently stands at some $8 billion — a figure, he said, that could be augmented further.

He went on to note that Saudi investment in Turkey — especially in the tourism and real estate sectors — had recently increased, while about 800 Saudi companies were currently operating in the country.

At the same time, there are some 200 Turkish companies currently operating in Saudi Arabia doing an estimated $17 billion of business per year, the diplomat said.

Demirer urged Turkish businessmen to invest in Saudi Arabia, particularly in light of Riyadh’s long-term strategy of diversifying away from energy sales as its prime source of income.