RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Türkiye reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations across political, economic, energy, defence, and regional cooperation, according to a joint statement issued at the conclusion of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official visit to the Kingdom.
President Erdoğan visited Saudi Arabia on February 3, 2026, where he held talks with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. The discussions focused on strengthening historic ties and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Both sides agreed to enhance economic, trade, and investment cooperation, leveraging Saudi Vision 2030 and Türkiye’s Century Vision. They stressed the importance of increasing non-oil trade, encouraging public and private sector engagement, and finalizing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between Türkiye and the GCC. The two countries also praised the outcomes of the Saudi-Turkish Investment Forum held in Riyadh, which highlighted opportunities in tourism, construction, technology, and healthcare.
In the energy and climate sectors, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed to expand cooperation in oil, petrochemicals, renewable energy, electricity interconnection, energy efficiency, clean hydrogen, and critical minerals. Both sides emphasized adherence to the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement and welcomed Türkiye’s hosting of COP31 in Antalya in November 2026, while underscoring cooperation on circular carbon economy initiatives.
The joint statement highlighted progress under the Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council and identified new areas for partnership, including artificial intelligence, transportation, culture, media, education, health, defence industries, and environmental cooperation. On defence and security, both sides agreed to activate existing agreements and enhance coordination in counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and regional stability.
Regionally, the two countries exchanged views on developments in Palestine, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and the Russia-Ukraine crisis. They expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, reaffirmed support for a two-state solution, and emphasized the protection of civilians and international humanitarian law. Both sides also reiterated their support for political solutions to conflicts in the Middle East and beyond.
At the conclusion of the visit, President Erdoğan thanked Saudi leadership for the warm reception and extended an invitation for Saudi leaders to visit Türkiye, which was accepted by the Crown Prince.
