Deepening Türkiye-Saudi Relations Strengthen Regional Stability and Economic Ties
ANKARA/RIYADH: Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are increasingly solidifying their historic partnership, with expanding diplomatic, economic, and defense cooperation positively influencing both bilateral trade and regional stability.
High-level visits, trade forums, and defense agreements have marked a significant deepening of ties in recent years. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is scheduled for another major visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, where he will be formally welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. The visit will include the “Saudi Arabia-Türkiye Business Forum,” jointly organized by the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and the Saudi Ministry of Trade.
Recent agreements between the two countries cover renewable energy, civil defense, and social services cooperation. These initiatives build on decades of diplomatic engagement, dating back to the signing of the Friendship Treaty in 1929. Since then, high-level reciprocal visits and participation in regional institutions like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have reinforced the bilateral relationship.
Bilateral trade has seen steady growth over the years. Despite a pandemic-related dip in 2020-2021, trade volumes recovered to $6.493 billion in 2022, $6.825 billion in 2023, and around $8 billion in 2024. Türkiye exported $3.15 billion worth of goods to Saudi Arabia last year, with grains, pulses, oilseeds, carpets, and chemical products among the top exports. Turkish overseas contracting firms continue to undertake major projects in Saudi Arabia, reflecting the broader economic engagement between the two nations.
Defense and military cooperation have also expanded. ASELSAN, Türkiye’s leading defense electronics firm, has partnered with Saudi institutions to form the Saudi Defense Electronics Company (SADEC). In 2023, Baykar signed an export and cooperation agreement with the Saudi Ministry of Defense for the Bayraktar AKINCI unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), marking Türkiye’s largest-ever defense export contract.
The strengthened Ankara-Riyadh partnership has also influenced regional policies. Both countries have coordinated positions on crises in Palestine, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, demonstrating a balance of competition and cooperation rather than conflict. Joint efforts in Syria, including supporting the new administration under President Ahmad al-Sharaa and facilitating the lifting of international sanctions, have contributed to reconstruction and stability.
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia continue to support regional security and humanitarian efforts, underlining the strategic importance of their evolving relationship. Analysts note that the growing collaboration not only benefits bilateral economic growth but also enhances stability across the Middle East.