ISLAMABAD, June 22 ( Alliance News): Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Turkey for the first time in many years for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, aimed at normalizing relations between the two countries following the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashkji. To bring
According to reports from foreign media, Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia in April after a month-long campaign to improve relations with regional powers. It also included ending the 2018 murder case.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman one-on-one during his visit, during which they sought to expand Saudi investment opportunities in order to help Turkey’s troubled economy. Get help to restore.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week that he and Riyadh’s powerful leader, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, would discuss during talks in Ankara how high they could take relations between the two countries.
A senior Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the visit was expected to lead to a “complete restoration of pre-crisis relations” between the two countries, which would usher in a new era.
A senior Turkish official said talks on a possible currency swap line with the potential to help restore Turkey’s declining foreign exchange reserves were not moving as fast as they should have. The issue will be discussed in a one-on-one meeting between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The senior Turkish official added that agreements on energy, economy and security would be signed during the visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while plans were also underway to invest in Turkey by Saudi investors. Consideration
Prince Mohammed bin Salman is currently on his first visit to a country outside the Gulf region in three years, including a visit to Jordan.
“I think this is one of the most important visits by any foreign leader to Ankara in almost a decade,” said a Turkish expert at the Washington Institute.
He further said that Rajab Tayyab Ardawan is Rajab Tayyab Ardawan, he wants to win the presidential election anyway and I think he has decided to show humility only to win the election.
He said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was also trying to see if he could gain wider support before a possible new nuclear deal between world powers and Saudi rival Iran.
It may be recalled that relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey were strained after the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashkji at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.
Jamal Khashoggi was a journalist familiar with Saudi Arabia’s internal affairs who later became a critic of the kingdom’s policies. The remains of the slain journalist have not yet been found.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier alleged that the “top leadership” of the Saudi government had ordered the journalist’s assassination.
Turkey later cut off criticism of Saudi Arabia over the case and moved the case to Riyadh in April, after human rights groups condemned the move and the opposition. The parties criticized the move, saying it was a trade-off in exchange for financial support.
The Saudi Crown Prince’s visit comes at a time when the Turkish economy is under severe pressure due to the depreciation of the lira and rising inflation by more than 70%.
Analysts say Saudi financial support and foreign currency could help Rajab Tayyip Erdogan gain support before the June 2023 election.
The Turkish official said Saudi Arabia could be interested in measures such as the Turkish Wealth Fund or investments made by the UAE in recent months.
The Turkish official added that the Turkish president will also discuss with Riyadh the possible sale of Turkish armed drones.
The leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party said yesterday that Rajab Tayyab Ardawan would embrace the man who ordered the assassination of Jamal Khashkji.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denies involvement in the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
