Deepening relations with the sister Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
One hundred years ago, on October 29, 1923, the Turkish people, under the wise leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, laid the foundation for a sovereign, modern, democratic and progressive Turkey. After World War I and after the sincere sacrifices it made during the War of Independence, Türkiye was reborn as a modern republic thanks to the strong commitment and unremitting efforts of the Turkish people. As members of the Turkish people, we are proud of this extraordinary journey and the remarkable progress our nation has achieved in the first century of the Republic.
Turkey’s 100th anniversary marks a significant milestone in the nation’s history, reflecting a journey of adaptation, progress and enduring friendships. One of these deep-rooted historical ties is the partnership with Saudi Arabia, a partnership that spans decades and continues to flourish, with Turkey and Saudi Arabia standing out as evidence. On the enduring power of diplomacy and cooperation.
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia share a rich history of diplomatic, economic and cultural cooperation. Our bilateral relations have continuously deepened, guided by mutual respect and common interests. The two countries have played pivotal roles in promoting peace and stability in the region.
Turkey is one of the first countries to recognize the Kingdom of Hijaz and Nejd in 1926. In the same year, Turkey established its diplomatic representation and appointed Suleiman Shawkat Bey as Chargé d’Affairs to Saudi Arabia. Turkey and Saudi Arabia were also among the few independent Islamic states during the interwar and colonial period. This recognition provided the foundation for a lasting friendship that lasted for many decades. On August 3, 1929, a “Friendship Treaty” was signed between the two countries. On September 23, 1932, the “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” was established, and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was one of the first leaders to send a congratulatory telegram to King Abdulaziz.
King Faisal met the late Mustafa Kemal Ataturk when he was a young prince in Ankara on June 12, 1932, strengthening the bonds of brotherhood between the two countries. On that day, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk received Prince Faisal and held a dinner in his honor. During his stay in Türkiye, he attended Turkish army maneuvers in Ankara and visited Turkish military industry facilities in the city of Kirkcale. This historic visit paved the way for future cooperation and coordination in various fields between the two countries. King Faisal also visited Turkey in 1966.
His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received the King Faisal International Award for Service to Islam for the year 2010 from the late King Abdullah. In the same year, the two countries signed a military cooperation agreement aimed at training and scientific and technical cooperation in the military field. His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2011, 2012, 2017 and 2022. On July 17, 2023, His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by ministers, senior officials and more than 200 businessmen. During this visit, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia signed a series of deals covering investment, defense industry, energy and media.
Türkiye’s growing cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is evidenced by the increasing frequency of high-level visits, including the recent visit of His Excellency President Erdogan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Cooperation between ministers, private sector executives, and businessmen is also expanding, indicating that the relationship between our two countries is progressing strongly.
The depth of the relationship between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia was highlighted when Türkiye was hit by the disaster of the century in early February. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to send search and rescue teams and provide basic relief materials. This solidarity has strengthened the existing bonds of brotherhood between the two countries. As Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Riyadh, I would like to express my gratitude once again to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and to the people of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their support during the earthquake period.
Over the past century, Türkiye has witnessed a remarkable economic transformation. It has risen to become one of the 20 largest economies in the world. Today, Türkiye ranks as the nineteenth largest economy in the world in terms of GDP. This growth is evidence of Türkiye’s determination, flexibility and progress. With a dynamic population of 85 million, Türkiye is the production center of the region. Within the framework of the vision of His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “The Century of Turkey”, Turkey is implementing several projects such as digital transformation, advanced technology, space, innovation in agriculture, green transformation in industry, renewable energy, combating climate change, and achieving high levels of localization in the automobile industry. Defense, as well as diversifying tourism and maintaining its leading role in the field of construction and infrastructure.
Turkey is ready to do its utmost to share its strength and experience with the sister Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all projects within the tremendous transformation that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing under “Vision 2030” led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman. President Erdogan announced Türkiye’s support for Riyadh to host Expo 2030. The Turkish Football Federation also expressed its great support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
Turkey’s strategic location at the crossroads between Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Caucasus and Central Asia makes it a vital player on the global stage. The customs union with the European Union has given Turkey access to multiple markets. Türkiye has also established key energy transmission lines to transport oil and natural gas, enhancing its importance in the global energy landscape.
Türkiye’s appeal extends beyond its economic strength. It ranks fourth among the most visited countries in the world, attracting tourists with its rich cultural heritage and attractive natural landscapes. In addition, Türkiye has emerged as a leading country in the field of health tourism, as Türkiye boasts cutting-edge medical technology. Since last January, more than 700,000 Saudi citizens have visited our country for tourism purposes. We are working to welcome more Saudi brothers and sisters to our country in the coming years, and we hope that their number will reach at least one million annually. In this regard, Saudi citizens will benefit (not only from single visas but) from multiple electronic entry visas to Turkey, which can be obtained within two minutes via mobile phone.
Furthermore, Türkiye boasts an impressive defense industry, with about 80 percent of it localized. This achievement has positioned Türkiye as an important global exporter in the defense sector. The defense industry will remain a key element in strengthening our bilateral cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In addition to its membership in NATO and its contributions to missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan, Turkey is an important member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. As members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Turkey and Saudi Arabia continue to face the challenges of our time side by side within the framework of the Organization.
Turkey is also working to strengthen its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as the strategic dialogue mechanism between Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council was signed in Jeddah in 2008, making Turkey the first country to establish such a mechanism with the Gulf Cooperation Council. We now look forward to the next high-level strategic dialogue between Türkiye and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Türkiye has consistently demonstrated its commitment to global peace, stability and prosperity. The “Mediation for Peace” initiative, launched within the United Nations in 2010, underscores Türkiye’s dedication to conflict resolution and international mediation. Türkiye and Saudi Arabia support peace and stability in the region and the world. His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman stressed the necessity of reaching a diplomatic solution in Ukraine. Last year, a Türkiye-brokered agreement was signed to return Ukrainian grain exports to the global market. Thanks to this agreement, many Middle Eastern countries have become relatively less affected by the global food crisis. Regarding the recent conflict in Gaza, both Turkey and Saudi Arabia are working hard and with active diplomacy to ensure peace and stability, prevent the targeting of civilians and allow humanitarian access. The two countries also stressed the importance of addressing the root cause, which is the two-state solution within the 1967 borders.
Turkey’s primary goal is to promote peace, stability, and prosperity globally, a vision that closely aligns with that of Saudi Arabia. Together, both countries strive to create a better future for our region and beyond. Türkiye is actively involved in counter-terrorism efforts. Türkiye’s commitment to eliminating terrorism is evident in its tireless efforts to maintain regional and global security.
As Türkiye celebrates its centenary, this is not just a celebration of a nation’s hundred-year history, but a testament to its enduring friendships. The deep-rooted historical ties and shared visions between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are a testament to the importance of diplomacy, cooperation and solidarity on the global stage. These two countries stand together, committed to a brighter and more prosperous future for the region and the world.
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Written by: Dr. Emrullah Ishler – Turkish Ambassador to the Kingdom
