Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman in Ankara to discuss bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries. They also reviewed regional and international developments and efforts to address them. Prince Khalid conveyed greetings from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Erdogan, while Erdogan extended his greetings to the Saudi leadership. The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials from both countries, including the Turkish Minister of National Defense and the President of the Turkish Defense Industry Agency.
Earlier in the day, Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler received Prince Khalid in an official ceremony at the Turkish Ministry of Defense headquarters. The two officials held bilateral discussions and engaged in talks aimed at strengthening defense cooperation between Turkiye and Saudi Arabia. Prince Khalid’s visit to Ankara follows directives from the Saudi leadership and is part of efforts to further enhance bilateral relations and cooperation between the two friendly countries.
During his visit, Prince Khalid will participate in a series of meetings to discuss various matters of mutual interest and work towards enhancing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The visit comes at a time when there has been significant progress in bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly in the field of defense industries. In August 2023, several Saudi and Turkish companies signed agreements and memorandums of understanding in Riyadh to localize the manufacturing of drones and their component systems in Saudi Arabia.
The agreements and memorandums of understanding were the result of a cooperation agreement between Baykar, a Turkish private defense company that manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles, and the Saudi Ministry of Defense. The signing ceremony in Riyadh was attended by high-level officials from both countries, including representatives from leading Turkish defense companies such as ASELSAN and Roketsan. Baykar signed an agreement with the Saudi Military Industries Company for local production and technology transfer, while ASELSAN and Roketsan signed memorandums of understanding with the Saudi Mechanical Systems Company for technology localization activities.
The visit of Prince Khalid to Ankara and the recent agreements between Saudi and Turkish companies highlight the commitment of both countries to enhancing cooperation in the field of defense industries. The meetings between Turkish and Saudi officials provide an opportunity to discuss ways to further strengthen defense cooperation and explore new areas of collaboration. The close ties between Saudi Arabia and Turkey are reflected in the ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral relations and work towards common goals and interests in various fields.
