The visit marks a step in the de facto Saudi leader’s efforts to restore his image across the Gulf and is taking place as Erdogan seeks financial support that could help alleviate Turkey’s troubled economy ahead of a tough presidential election. . In April, Erdogan had private talks with Prince Mohammed in Saudi Arabia after months of trying to improve relations between regional powers, including the abolition of the Turkish trial for Kasogi’s assassination in Istanbul in 2018. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Erdogan said last week that he and Prince Mohammed would discuss “the highest level” they could reach during talks in Ankara. read more The visit is expected to bring “a complete normalization and restoration of the pre-crisis period,” a senior Turkish official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. “A new era will begin.” Erdo .an welcomed Prince Mohammed to the Presidential Palace in Ankara with a ceremony and the two shook hands and hugged before being met by members of the Turkish cabinet. In a statement after the talks, the two countries stressed their determination to launch a new period of co-operation in bilateral relations. read more The Turkish official said the two countries had lifted restrictions on trade, flights and TV shows, and that negative media coverage had also stopped. However, he said talks on a possible currency exchange line – which could help restore Turkey’s devaluation – were not moving “as quickly as we would like” and would be discussed privately between Erdogan and Prince Mohammed. The two countries also discussed improving co-operation in trade and in areas such as defense, energy and tourism, among others, the joint statement said. He added that Ankara has called on Saudi Arabian investors to invest in Turkish start-ups. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meet at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey on June 22, 2022. Murat Cetinmuhurdar / PPO / Brochure via REUTERS read more
THE CRITICISM STOPPED
Prince Mohammed is on his first tour of the Gulf in more than three years, including a visit to Jordan. read more Ties between Ankara and Riyadh deteriorated when a Saudi strike team killed and dismembered Kasogi in 2018 at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul. Erdogan then blamed it on the “high levels” of the Saudi government. The visit, including the welcoming ceremony at the palace, marks a reversal in their relationship. Ankara halted all criticism and dropped its murder trial in April, moving the case to Riyadh in a move condemned by human rights groups. Prince Mohammed is harnessing Saudi Arabia’s vast wealth and oil production capacity to attract Western leaders and private business partners, hoping that shifting geopolitics and focusing on social and economic reforms will soften his criticism of human rights. . US President Joe Biden is due to visit Saudi Arabia in July as Washington struggles with high gasoline prices and builds a united front against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The visit is also taking place as the Turkish economy is under a lot of pressure from the pound falling and inflation exceeding 70%. Saudi Arabia’s funds and foreign currency could help Erdogan boost support ahead of the June 2023 election, analysts say. The Turkish official said that Saudi Arabia may be interested in companies within the Turkish Property Fund or elsewhere or make investments similar to those of the United Arab Emirates in recent months. The leaders will also discuss the possible sale of Turkish armed drones to Riyadh, the person added. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said on Tuesday that Erdogan “would embrace the man who ordered Kasogi’s assassination” and accused him of exchanging money for “help”. Prince Mohammed denies any involvement in the assassination. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Additional references by Aziz El Yaakoubi in Riyadh and Daren Butler in Istanbul. Editing by Jonathan Spicer, Angus MacSwan and Deepa Babington Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
