Saudi Arabia and Türkiye Expand Strategic Cooperation

03 February 2026, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Riyadh. Photo: -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa
03 February 2026, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Riyadh. Photo: -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa
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Saudi Arabia and Türkiye Expand Strategic Cooperation

03 February 2026, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Riyadh. Photo: -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa
03 February 2026, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Riyadh. Photo: -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa

Saudi Arabia and Türkiye stressed in a joint statement on Wednesday the importance of strengthening political and economic cooperation, and reaffirmed their commitment to continued coordination to maintain international peace and security.

The statement was issued following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the Kingdom on Tuesday. Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held a meeting with Erdogan at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.

“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued coordination and intensified efforts to maintain international peace and security. They exchanged views on issues of mutual concern at the regional and international levels, and emphasized their determination to strengthen cooperation and joint coordination on these matters, as well as their continued support for all efforts aimed at establishing peace and stability in the region and the world,” said the statement.

“Regarding the latest developments in Palestine, both sides expressed their deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the ongoing Israeli aggression, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid and border crossings. They stressed the importance of intensifying relief efforts in Gaza and pushing for the unimpeded opening of all crossings to ensure the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza Strip.”

On Yemen, both sides affirmed their support for the legitimate Yemeni government and stressed the importance of preserving Yemen's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

They also stressed the importance of confronting any attempts to divide Yemen.

Regarding Syria, the statement called for preserving Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity, and fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian people for development and prosperity.

The two countries reiterated their condemnation of the repeated Israeli violations against Syrian territory and sovereignty and called for Israel’s immediate withdrawal from all occupied Syrian territories.

On Somalia, both sides affirmed their unwavering support for the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity, rejecting the declaration of mutual recognition between Israel and the so-called "Somaliland" region.

In the economic, trade, and investment sectors, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye commended the strength of their economic ties and agreed on further strengthening them.

They also agreed to capitalize on the investment opportunities offered by the Saudi Vision 2030 and Century of Türkiye Vision for the mutual benefit of both economies.

According to the statement, they emphasized the importance of their respective roles in making significant contribution to the energy supply of their region and global markets.

They affirmed their desire to enhance cooperation in the fields of electricity and renewable energy, leveraging both countries’ extensive experience in renewable energy integration and the Kingdom’s large-scale energy investments. They also welcomed exploring opportunities for cooperation in the field of clean hydrogen.

On defense and security, both sides agreed on the need to activate the agreements signed between the two countries in the areas of defense cooperation.

“They affirmed their desire to strengthen and develop their defense relations in a way that serves the interests of both countries and contributes to achieving security and stability in the region, including through multilateral cooperation platforms,” the joint statement added.



Saudi Foreign Minister Meets with French Counterpart in Riyadh

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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Saudi Foreign Minister Meets with French Counterpart in Riyadh

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met Thursday in Riyadh French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, SPA reported.

During the meeting, they reviewed relations and discussed regional and international developments and their implications for security and stability.


How Did the Jeddah Summit Support Joint Gulf Action?

The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)
The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)
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How Did the Jeddah Summit Support Joint Gulf Action?

The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)
The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)

Gulf leaders meeting in Jeddah this week urged faster progress on joint projects and deeper military integration, seeking to reinforce collective security and economic coordination amid heightened regional tensions.

In a statement after the consultative summit on Tuesday, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said leaders called for accelerating completion of requirements to link all shared Gulf projects, including transport and logistics. They stressed speeding up implementation of the Gulf railway, advancing electricity interconnection, and taking prompt steps toward oil and gas pipeline and water-link projects.

The statement also pointed to studying strategic Gulf stockpiles, while emphasizing intensified military integration and faster completion of a joint early warning system against ballistic missiles.

The direct wording - repeating terms such as “accelerate” and “urgency” - reflected a push for concrete outcomes and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s initiative in convening the summit amid complex regional conditions.

28 April 2026, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Bahrain's King, Hamad bin Isa bin Salman, on the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council Consultative Summit. Photo: Saudi Press Agency/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said the meeting reflected Gulf unity. “Our consultative summit today in Jeddah embodies a unified Gulf position toward current developments and the need to intensify coordination and consultation,” he stated, adding that this would strengthen diplomatic efforts, safeguard regional security and stability, and support development and prosperity.

Extending Gulf leadership efforts

Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the summit was convened in response to conditions facing the Gulf region following the US-Israeli-Iranian war, aiming to coordinate GCC positions and contain its repercussions.

The goal is to enhance efforts to address this crisis and its consequences - security, economic and otherwise - to stabilize the region, safeguard GCC interests and strengthen collective security, he underlined.

Sager added that the summit builds on efforts led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Gulf leaders, within the broader vision of King Salman bin Abdulaziz to strengthen joint Gulf action, deepen economic unity, and develop defense and security systems toward more sustainable integration.

He revealed that these discussions also addressed reinforcing Gulf unity to better manage current challenges and anticipate future crises.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives the Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah ahead of an exceptional meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS

Toward independent Gulf decision-making

Sager said the summit is expected to build on the GCC success in confronting Iranian missile and drone attacks, using that experience to develop a comprehensive defense strategy, which would focus on modern armament suited to evolving warfare, training, and external defense partnerships, while reinforcing self-reliance.

Leaders reaffirmed the right of GCC states to self-defense, individually or collectively, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and to take all measures to protect sovereignty, security and stability. They stressed full solidarity among member states and that their security is indivisible, with any attack on one considered an attack on all, in line with the joint defense agreement.

Albudaiwi said leaders praised the “courage and high readiness” of GCC armed forces in defending against Iranian attacks, noting their ability to intercept missiles and drones with professionalism and efficiency while safeguarding national assets.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ahead of an exceptional meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS

Alternative routes on the agenda

Sager noted that developing alternative corridors to secure energy supply chains will likely be a key focus in the coming period, reflected in leaders’ directives to move ahead with pipeline projects and transport infrastructure.

Political analyst Ahmed Alibrahim agreed, saying the summit statement underscored Saudi Arabia’s role in securing supply chains during the crisis and working on alternative energy routes, including through the East-West pipeline, as part of addressing risks linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

He described the statement as unusually direct. “This is one of the rare times we see a clear and explicit communiqué with firm directives, especially regarding future requirements and open-ended scenarios,” he said, citing uncertainties including potential setbacks in US-Iran negotiations or other serious developments.

For his part, political analyst Mohammed Al-Dossary believes that the importance of the GCC lies in its ability to navigate many crises, including the Iraq-Iran War and Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.

He stressed that the collective consciousness of Gulf citizens recognizes the importance of unifying the Gulf stance to overcome crises, including the current one and the implications of the Strait of Hormuz closure.


Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Messages from Rwanda’s President, Japanese PM

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Messages from Rwanda’s President, Japanese PM

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a written message from Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, expressing his country's solidarity with the Kingdom in light of the current situation in the region.

The message was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah during a meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh with his Rwandan counterpart, Olivier Nduhungirehe.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and reviewed a number of issues of common interest.

The Crown Prince also received a written message from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, concerning relations between the two countries.

The message was received by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji during a meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh with the Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom Yasunari Morino.

During the meeting, the two officials reviewed relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan and discussed various topics of common interest.