Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has begun a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, seeking to deepen political and economic cooperation as regional tensions over Gaza, Iran and wider Middle East stability dominate the agenda.
Erdoğan departed on Tuesday with a senior delegation that includes Turkish first lady Emine Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and Defence Minister Yaşar Güler.
Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said Erdoğan will hold talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on expanding cooperation and reviewing regional developments.
He will travel to Cairo on Wednesday at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to co-chair the second meeting of the Türkiye-Egypt High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
Duran said the discussions will cover bilateral matters and wider regional issues, with a particular emphasis on Palestine.
Speaking to AnewZ, Mehmet Öğütcü, chairman of the London Energy Club and a former Turkish diplomat, said the visit comes “at a very critical time”, with Gaza, Syria and Iran shaping the agenda. He noted that the size of Erdoğan’s delegation reflects a drive to expand trade, investment and construction projects, alongside discussions about a possible informal Türkiye–Saudi–Pakistan arrangement “benefiting from Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella”.
Öğütcü said the key question remains whether the United States might take military action against Iran. Türkiye is mediating, he told AnewZ, with U.S. and Iranian delegations already talking in Ankara. “If this succeeds, this is going to be a huge achievement,” he said, warning that any strike could prompt regional disruption, from missile launches to threats to routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
He added that Saudi Arabia and Türkiye share an interest in preventing escalation despite different sensitivities. Riyadh remains concerned about Shia militancy and exposure along its oil-producing east, while Türkiye is alert to potential instability affecting “20 to 25 million Iranians of Turkish origin” in the event of conflict.
On Gaza, Öğütcü said both capitals are frustrated by continued Israeli strikes despite ceasefire efforts. Reconstruction will require “tens of billions of dollars”, with Türkiye ready to contribute, though Saudi Arabia wants political leadership to run through Egypt. Türkiye’s role, he said, is acceptable “for humanitarian and reconstruction purposes”, not for shaping Gaza’s future governance.
He also underlined economic ambitions, noting efforts to raise Türkiye–Saudi trade from 8-9 billion dollars to 30 billion dollars, with Turkish construction firms seeking a greater share of major projects and both sides looking at opportunities in energy, infrastructure and defence.
A Pentagon official provided the first official estimate of the cost of the U.S. war in Iran on Wednesday (29 April), telling lawmakers that $25 bi...
The President Cup 2026 continued with a dynamic programme, as the second day marked the official start of the international regatta....
Two Jewish men have been stabbed in London in an incident that British police are treating as a terrorist attack.&nbs...
A new Georgian-language broadcaster backed by Poland’s public media has launched with promises of objectivity - but it is already fuelli...
Armenia and Georgia will co-host the 2029 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the sport’s global governing body announced on Wednesday (29 April), bringing ...
The renewed discussions on reopening the Kars-Gyumri railway between Türkiye and Armenia have been described as “historic progress” and “a positive step” within a complex regional landscape.
Türkiye is expanding its diplomatic mediation efforts in Iran- U.S. talks amid rising regional tensions, as Ankara continues to position itself as a key facilitator in broader Middle East stability efforts.
The months-long disarmament process involving the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has made little tangible progress, Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın has said.
Türkiye and the United Kingdom on Thursday signed a wide-ranging strategic partnership agreement to boost bilateral cooperation, especially in defence. The deal, signed in London, signals a “new era” in relations between the two NATO allies.
A Pentagon official provided the first official estimate of the cost of the U.S. war in Iran on Wednesday (29 April), telling lawmakers that $25 billion had so far been spent on the conflict, most of it on munitions. Earlier, Donald Trump said that the U.S. had "militarily defeated" Tehran.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday Iran could telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to their two-month war. Tehran said the U.S. should remove obstacles to a deal, including its blockade of Iran's ports. Meanwhile Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in St Petersburg for talks.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
The death toll from a train collision near Indonesia’s capital Jakarta rose to 14 women on Tuesday (28 April), with 84 people injured, after rescuers completed efforts to free passengers trapped in the wreckage, the state rail operator said.
The decision by the United Arab Emirates to leave OPEC+ on 1 May has put renewed focus on one of the most influential groups in global energy - and how its decisions can shape oil prices worldwide.
The President Cup 2026 continued with a dynamic programme, as the second day marked the official start of the international regatta.
A new Georgian-language broadcaster backed by Poland’s public media has launched with promises of objectivity - but it is already fuelling debate over influence, trust, and politics.
Armenia and Georgia will co-host the 2029 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the sport’s global governing body announced on Wednesday (29 April), bringing the youth tournament to the South Caucasus for the second consecutive edition after the 2027 event.
Former security chief Kamchybek Tashiev has been questioned in connection with an alleged attempt to seize power by force, Kyrgyz lawyer Sherdor Abdykaparov said.
Afghan and Russian officials have discussed expanding political, economic and security cooperation during talks in Kabul, Afghan ministries said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment