ANKARA (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is visiting Turkey for the first time in years on Wednesday for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan aimed at completely normalizing relations severed after the fall of Saddam Hussein. The visit marks a step in Prince Mohammed’s effort to restore his image across the Gulf and is taking place as Erdogan seeks financial support that could help alleviate Turkey’s besieged 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. Erdogan said last week that he and the de facto leader of Riyadh would discuss “at what much higher level” they could reach their ties during talks in Ankara. 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.” Erdogan was scheduled to receive the Crown Prince at the presidential palace for talks in the afternoon. No public statements are scheduled. The Turkish official said the two countries had lifted restrictions on trade, flights and TV shows, and that negative media coverage had also stopped. Agreements on energy, economy and security will be signed during the visit, and a plan for Saudi capital to enter Turkey’s capital markets is also planned, the official said. 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 CRITICISM STOPPED Prince Mohammed is on his first tour of the Gulf in more than three years, including a visit to Jordan. The story goes on 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 soaring to over 70%. Saudi Arabia’s funds and foreign currency could help Erdogan boost pre-election support until June 2023, 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”. Prince Mohammed denies any involvement in the assassination. (Additional references by Aziz El Yaakoubi in Riyadh and Daren Butler in Istanbul; Edited by Jonathan Spicer and Angus MacSwan)
