Türkiye: Erdogan visits Saudi Arabia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in Saudi Arabia, the first stop on his diplomatic tour of the Arab monarchies in the Persian Gulf which will take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Erdogan is accompanied on his journey by a large state delegation including ministers of defence, foreign affairs, energy and natural resources, heads of ministries of industry and technology, commerce as well as the head of intelligence and the director of presidential communications.

Regional media highlight the trip of the Turkish head of state, "interested in receiving financial support from the energy countries of the Persian Gulf". Erdogan's visit includes a meeting today in Riyadh with King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad ben Salman. The Turkish president will continue his trip today to Doha, Qatar, and tomorrow Wednesday to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates in an attempt to further strengthen Ankara's relations with the Arabs of the Persian Gulf area following his May 28 re-election last. For Western media this diplomatic tour represents a highlight for Erdogan's second term, consisting of a 360-degree regional strategy, where Riyadh and Abu Dhabi take on a new role after years of diplomatic frost.