Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Saudi Arabia is of exceptional importance in both its timing and substance, reflecting the deepening relations between the two major regional powers. This visit underscores Turkey's appreciation for the pivotal role the Kingdom, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, plays in guiding the Islamic world and its influential role within the G20 and the global economy.
Strategic dimensions and crucial timing
This visit transcends the usual protocol to address the core challenges facing the Middle East. Amid escalating geopolitical tensions globally and regionally, Saudi-Turkish coordination is a pressing necessity for ensuring stability. President Erdoğan's meeting with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman , Crown Prince and Prime Minister, aims to unify perspectives on pressing issues, reaffirm the principle of resolving conflicts through diplomatic dialogue, and uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, thereby strengthening the collective security framework in the region.
The Coordination Council: An umbrella for institutional cooperation
Current relations are built on a solid foundation established through the Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council, announced following the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' visit to Turkey in 2016. This council underwent a significant transformation with the signing of a protocol amending its founding agreement in 2024, making it the primary framework for cooperation in political, economic, and defense fields. This institutional development reflects the two countries' desire to move their relationship from bilateral cooperation to a sustainable strategic partnership.
A qualitative leap in defense industries
Perhaps the most significant outcome of this rapprochement is the growing military and defense cooperation. The Kingdom has taken significant steps towards localizing military industries in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, through:
- Signing of the executive plan for defense cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries.
- Signing huge acquisition contracts with Baykar, the world's leading Turkish company in the field of drones.
- The focus is on transferring knowledge and technology and training Saudi national cadres, to ensure the localization of the drone industry and its component systems within the Kingdom.
Promising economic partnership and record figures
On the economic front, the figures testify to the success of the rapprochement, with trade volume exceeding $7.47 billion in 2024 and continuing to grow in 2025. Both governments are working to remove obstacles facing the private sector, resulting in:
- Around 390 Turkish companies have entered the Saudi market to invest.
- Ten new investment agreements were signed during the recent Saudi-Turkish Business Forum.
- Taking advantage of the enormous opportunities offered by the Kingdom’s major projects and advanced infrastructure.
This economic and defense integration not only serves the interests of both countries, but also casts a positive shadow on the stability and prosperity of the entire region, establishing a model to be emulated in international relations between major Islamic countries.
