Turkish President Erdogan Boosts Ties with Gulf States in Three-Stop Tour
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has embarked on a three-stop tour of Persian Gulf states, aimed at improving relations and boosting cooperation. As part of his visit, Erdogan has arrived in Saudi Arabia accompanied by a business delegation of 200 people. The Turkish leader expressed his happiness with the visit during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah.
To enhance economic ties, business forums have been organized in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during Erdogan’s trip. Turkey hopes to focus on joint investment and commercial initiatives with the Gulf states. This visit comes at a crucial time for Turkey, as the country faces economic struggles, including high inflation and a record current account deficit. Erdogan is looking towards the oil- and gas-rich Gulf states to help alleviate this economic gap.
In recent years, Ankara has worked towards repairing ties with Saudi Arabia and the UAE after a decade-long rift. During Erdogan’s visit, tensions such as the boycott of Qatar and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi were not on display. Instead, the two countries signed economic agreements, including a deal for Saudi Arabia to purchase Turkish-made drones.
This is not the first time Erdogan has visited Crown Prince Mohammed and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Gulf countries have also provided funding to relieve economic pressure on Turkey, demonstrating their commitment to fostering stronger relations.
Erdogan’s tour will further extend to Qatar, where he is set to meet with the country’s Emir, and the UAE, where he will hold discussions with the UAE leader. These meetings aim to solidify ties and explore potential avenues for further cooperation.
As the Turkish President’s visit garners attention, it is hoped that the discussions and agreements made during his tour will contribute to the growth and prosperity of both Turkey and the Gulf states.
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