Advancing Türkiye-Saudi Arabia relations amid opportunities and challenges

The Turkish War of Independence fought under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the aftermath of World War I, ended in an unprecedented victory, leading to the birth of the modern day Republic of Türkiye.

Today we are celebrating the 102nd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye. The young Republic, deriving strength from its rich history as well as culture and following its motto “Peace at home, peace abroad,” took steps decisively towards a democratic, stable and prosperous Türkiye domestically and contributed to stability and peace in the regional as well as international level.

Currently, we are in a period in which our nation seeks to rise among major regional and international powers through development, innovation, and strategic diplomacy, which we refer to as the “The Century of Türkiye.”

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However, we are also acutely aware of the challenges facing our region. Peace and security have been undermined, and core principles of international law, including the protection of civilians in armed conflicts and the prohibition of the use of force, are increasingly disregarded by certain actors. These developments underscore the urgent need for enhanced cooperation between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, two key regional actors sharing a commitment to peace, stability and international law.

Our countries share similar perspectives on numerous regional issues such as implementation of the two-state solution, reconstruction of Syria, maritime security in the Red Sea and mediation between conflicting sides in Sudan. We have a strong common ground on upholding principles of respect for sovereignty and good neighbourliness, along with promoting dialogue and diplomacy, to achieve peace and security in the Middle East. Both our nations recognize that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to lasting peace in Palestine and together, they engage with the Islamic world to counter aggression against Muslim nations, particularly in the Middle East.

Recent diplomatic engagements highlight this alignment. The Arab League-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Joint Summit in Doha last month provided an important platform for dialogue. During the summit, our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues. Türkiye has actively participated in the High-Level International Conference on the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-organised by Saudi Arabia and France on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly session, as well as the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. Bilateral meetings, including discussions between Foreign Minister H.E. Hakan Fidan and his Saudi counterpart HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan, have further reinforced coordination at international fora such as the Munich Security Conference.

Bilateral cooperation is expanding beyond diplomatic dialogue. Türkiye–Saudi Arabia economic relations are growing steadily, with trade reaching 8-billion USD last year, a historic high. The two countries aim to elevate this level to 10-billion USD, and eventually to 15-billion USD, reflecting untapped potential across diverse sectors.

People-to-people ties are also strengthening: in addition to the thousands of pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah, tourism flows between our nations are rising. Last year, 869,000 Saudi tourists visited Türkiye, and this number is expected to approach one million this year.

Meanwhile, cooperation in the military and defense industries continues to expand, serving as a crucial driver of our bilateral relations amid evolving regional security challenges. It is particularly gratifying that in recent years, the Turkish and Saudi armed forces have been regularly assigning personnel to joint trainings and exercises. Moreover, recognizing the importance of building strong armies through effective training, we are also conducting – and planning to further expand – mutual programs in language and theoretical instruction.

As reaffirmed by both countries during various high-level meetings, particularly at Defense Industry Fairs, we are confident that our military cooperation will continue to grow in both scope and depth. Türkiye’s successful defense industry companies offer numerous potential projects that can further advance our partnership with our Saudi brothers. We firmly believe that our cooperation will strengthen even further in the coming period and that we will jointly achieve our shared objectives.

Türkiye regards Saudi Arabia not only as a key regional partner but as a brotherly Muslim nation sharing common values and a mutual commitment to peace and security. Together, our countries can play a transformative role in promoting stability, prosperity, and dialogue across the Middle East. As Türkiye embarks on its second century, our partnership with Saudi Arabia offers a foundation for shaping a secure and prosperous regional order.

Read more: Saudi defense firm SAMI signs 3 MOUs with Turkish companies