Türkiye, Saudi sign series of deals as part of Erdoğan’s visit
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have signed a series of agreements on boosting investment, defense industry cooperation, energy collaboration and communications during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Persian Gulf states.
The deals were finalized after delegation meetings led by Erdoğan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the city of Jeddah on July 17.
One of the agreements, titled "Memorandum of Understanding on Promotion of Direct Investment," was signed by Turkish Presidency's Investment Office head Burak Dağlıoğlu and Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih.
In the field of communications, Türkiye's Presidency of Communications and the Saudi Arabian Information Ministry signed another memorandum, with Turkish Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun and Saudi Arabia's Media Minister Salman bin Yusuf Al-Dawsari putting pen to paper.
Additionally, the two countries' defense ministries signed an "Implementation Plan for Cooperation," with ministers Yaşar Güler and Prince Khalid bin Salman Al-Suud as the signatories. In the energy sector, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud inked a cooperation agreement.
Furthermore, another agreement was signed between the Saudi Defense Ministry and Turkish company Baykar Technologies. The document featured the signatures of Haluk Bayraktar, the company's general manager, and Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Khalid Bin Hussein Al-Bayari.
Prior to the signing of the agreements, Erdoğan held a closed-door meeting with the Saudi crown prince at Al-Salam Royal Palace. The president's visit to Saudi Arabia is part of his three-day Gulf tour aimed at strengthening ties.
Erdoğan is accompanied by members of his cabinet and other Turkish officials throughout his tour. After Saudi Arabia, Erdoğan held a one-on-one meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who welcomed him with an official ceremony at Lusail Palace. Subsequently, they attended bilateral meetings and an official dinner.
The final leg of Erdoğan's tour will take him to the United Arab Emirates, where he is scheduled to meet with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on July 19.
During a press briefing at Istanbul Airport on July 17 prior to his departure, Erdoğan stated, "Our agenda is joint investment and commercial activities. Our bilateral trade volume with the Gulf countries has increased from $1.6 billion to approximately $22 billion in the last 20 years."
Erdoğan emphasized the importance of enhancing relations with the countries in the region and stated that their main priority would be conducting commercial activities in the near future. The president underscored the need for close consultation and cooperation between Türkiye and the Gulf countries to "address crises in the Islamic world."
