In a move reflecting the deepening relations between the two countries, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the Republic of Turkey at the Royal Court in Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. An official welcoming ceremony was held for the Turkish President, followed by extensive talks that reflected the strategic importance both sides attach to this visit.
General context and historical background
This summit comes at a new stage of cooperation between Riyadh and Ankara, following a period of strained relations in recent years. Efforts to revitalize bilateral ties began in earnest over the past two years, culminating in high-level reciprocal visits, most notably the visit of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to Turkey in June 2022, which laid a solid foundation for rebuilding trust and defining future avenues of cooperation. This meeting represents a continuation of this positive momentum and a shared desire to translate political understandings into tangible partnerships on the ground, serving the interests of both countries and their brotherly peoples.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
The official talks focused on reviewing the prospects for bilateral relations and exploring ways to enhance cooperation in various fields, particularly economic, investment, and defense. The Kingdom and Turkey, as two regional powers and prominent economies within the G20, view this rapprochement as a strategic necessity for achieving stability and prosperity in the region. This cooperation is expected to contribute to increasing the volume of trade and encouraging mutual investments in vital sectors aligned with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, such as technology, tourism, defense industries, and renewable energy.
At the regional and international levels, the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the region and the world, as well as efforts to contain tensions and achieve peace. Issues such as the situation in Palestine, the Syrian crisis, and maritime security were high on the agenda. Saudi-Turkish coordination aims to unify visions and positions on these challenges, thereby strengthening regional security and preventing foreign interference in the region's affairs.
High-level attendance
The talks were attended by a high-level Saudi delegation that included His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a number of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Ministers.
On the Turkish side, a large official delegation attended, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy, Defense, Finance, Industry, and Trade, in addition to senior officials in the Turkish Presidency, which confirms the seriousness of the talks and the ambition to expand the scope of cooperation to include all vital sectors.
