Saudi Arabia and Turkey: Diplomatic exemption agreement deepens strategic relations

In a significant diplomatic step reflecting the deepening relations between the two countries, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met today with His Excellency Mr. Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, in the Turkish capital, Ankara. The meeting witnessed the signing of an agreement on the mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special passports between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Turkey.

During the meeting, the two ministers reviewed the strong bilateral relations between their two brotherly countries and discussed ways to enhance and develop them across various fields of cooperation to serve their common interests. They also exchanged views on key regional and international developments and the efforts being made to promote security and stability in the region and the world.

Historical context and a new phase of cooperation

This signing marks the culmination of a new phase of rapprochement and cooperation between Riyadh and Ankara, which has gained significant momentum in recent years. After a period of strain, relations began to improve markedly, exemplified by high-level visits, most notably the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Turkey in June 2022, and the visit of His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Kingdom in July 2023. These visits laid a solid foundation for rebuilding trust and expanding the horizons of the strategic partnership between the two major regional powers.

The importance of the agreement and its expected impact

The visa waiver agreement's significance extends beyond its role as a consular procedure; it symbolizes mutual trust and directly facilitates communication between government officials and diplomats in both countries. This step is expected to have numerous positive impacts

• On the bilateral level: The agreement will contribute to accelerating the pace of political consultations and coordinating positions, and will support efforts to enhance economic, trade and investment cooperation, which the two countries seek to raise to new record levels, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and Turkey’s development goals.
• Regionally, the Saudi-Turkish rapprochement sends a strong message about de-escalation, resolving disputes, and strengthening joint action to address regional challenges. As two pivotal countries in the Islamic world, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the G20, their close cooperation can effectively contribute to regional stability and address pressing issues.

This agreement is seen as a practical step within a broader path to deepening the partnership, which will include the fields of defense, energy, tourism and culture, benefiting the people of both countries and enhancing their standing on the international stage.