SAUDI CROWN PRINCE VISITS TURKEY AS COUNTRIES SEEK TO NORMALIZE TIES

Wed 22 June 2022:

On Wednesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives in Turkey for the first time in years for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoan aimed at fully normalizing ties that were severed following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Erdoan visited Saudi Arabia in April after a months-long effort to improve relations between the regional powers. During his visit, he met with Prince Mohammed one-on-one, raising the prospect of Saudi investment.

Erdoğan said last week he and Prince Mohammed, Riyadh’s de facto leader, would discuss “to what much higher level” they can take ties during talks in Ankara.

The visit is expected to bring “a full normalisation and a restoration of the pre-crisis period,” a senior Turkish official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. “A new era will begin.”

Agreements on energy, economy and security would be signed during Prince Mohammed’s visit, while a plan was also in the works for Saudi funds to enter capital markets in Türkiye, the person added.

Prince Mohammed is on his first tour outside the Gulf region in over three years including a visit to Jordan.

After a Saudi hit squad killed and dismembered Khashoggi at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul in 2018, relations between Ankara and Riyadh deteriorated.

According to the Turkish official, Saudi Arabia may be interested in companies within the Turkish Wealth Fund or elsewhere, or in making investments similar to those made by the UAE in recent months.

According to the person, the leaders will also discuss the possible sale of Turkish armed drones to Riyadh.

NEWS AGENCIES

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent