Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will embark on an official visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as part of a broader tour that will also take him to Egypt. The visit is aimed at bolstering bilateral relations and discussing shared regional and economic issues, with particular attention to cooperation in energy, trade, and regional security.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, President Erdogan is expected to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to Saudi Arabia. Discussions will focus on a joint defense alliance involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, as well as cooperation in military and defense industries and developments in the Gaza Strip. The visit signifies a marked improvement in Turkish-Saudi relations, which have seen significant progress following high-level visits and economic agreements in recent years.

Erdogan’s agenda in Saudi Arabia includes boosting trade, encouraging mutual investments, and strengthening private sector cooperation. These discussions are expected to further elevate economic and investment partnerships between the two nations. The relationship has grown considerably since Erdogan’s previous visit to Riyadh and the subsequent visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Turkey.

In Egypt, Erdogan will meet with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to co-chair the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between Egypt and Turkey. The talks will address regional issues, including the Palestinian situation and the circumstances in Syria and Libya, alongside ways to enhance bilateral trade. Turkish-Egyptian relations have improved since the reconciliation process began in 2021, with developments in energy, trade, and regional mediation.

According to Turkish media, Erdogan’s visit to Egypt aims to strengthen joint investments and cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in gas and oil, while coordinating on political and economic matters of mutual interest. The visit will also focus on enhancing bilateral trade, which has seen significant growth in recent years.