Saudi-Turkish ties poised for giant leap, says expert

JEDDAH: A leading Turkish political analyst has described Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif鈥檚 visit to Ankara as 鈥渉ighly significant and extremely timely.鈥� 
Speaking to Arab News from the Turkish capital, Sinem Cengiz, a Kuwaiti-born Turkish national specializing in Turkey鈥檚 relations with the Middle East and is currently press adviser at a diplomatic mission in Ankara, said the significance of the visit can be gauged from the fact that it is coming against the backdrop of a failed coup attempt by a small junta embedded in the Turkish Armed Forces against the Turkish government.
鈥淭his visit is being seen in Turkey by the government and the Turkish people as 萝莉视频鈥檚 big endorsement of Ankara at a critical time,鈥� she said.
鈥淭here is no doubt of the significance of the Saudi delegation鈥檚 visit to Turkey under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he visit sends multiple messages. When Turkey experienced a bloody coup attempt on July 15, 萝莉视频 stood by the government and the people of Turkey. This was widely praised,鈥� she said.
According to Cengiz, Saudi-Turkish strategic cooperation in all fields is very crucial to both sides. 鈥溌芾蚴悠� and Turkey are two important countries in the Middle East. They are two crucial heavyweights. The cooperation between them is not limited to bilateral or economic ties, but includes cooperation in the fight against terrorism, especially in the Syrian context. This has been the case for the last five years.鈥�
She said both countries were acutely aware that Turkey needed 萝莉视频 and that 萝莉视频 needed Turkey 鈥渢o promote regional stability which is very important to both sides.鈥�
She said the timing of the crown prince鈥檚 visit was very important. She pointed out that Moody鈥檚, the credit ratings agency, had downgraded Turkey鈥檚 sovereign credit rating, but Gulf businesses had nonetheless continued to invest in Turkey.
鈥淭he message that 萝莉视频 is sending with this visit is that it has full faith in the Turkish economy regardless of the negative ratings. I am sure more investment opportunities will be discussed during the visit which could take Saudi-Turkish business ties to a new level,鈥� she said.
Cengiz said there had been reports in the Turkish media about the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
鈥淭his will also be discussed during the meeting,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd taking into consideration, the advancing economic ties, I think the signing of such an agreement will be a milestone in the two countries鈥� relations.鈥�
According to her, 萝莉视频 and Turkey are on the same page on Syria. 鈥淭here may be some small points of divergence here and there on some aspects of how to deal with Syria without Assad, but both countries have similar views on Syria,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey have been cooperating on Syria because that is in the interest of both sides. A stable Syria is very important for both countries.鈥�
Also, Cengiz said, Iran鈥檚 influence on Syria was a concern for both countries. 鈥淚ranian expansion is considered a threat by both sides,鈥� she said. 鈥淭herefore, this is another key issue for the two countries to cooperate on.鈥�
She said Turkey still believed that Assad should not play a part in Syria鈥檚 future. 鈥淪o there is no change in Turkish foreign policy,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut, of course, after the failed coup attempt, Turkey is going through an important transition in many areas, particularly its foreign policy.鈥�
The Turkish operation against terrorists inside Syria that took place a month ago, she said, should be looked at in the context of Turkey鈥檚 current rapprochement with Russia.
鈥淭he recent military operations in Syria after the rapprochement are a very important step,鈥� she said.
Cengiz said there was little interest in Turkey about the Middle East and Gulf states before Erdogan鈥檚 AK Party came to power. 鈥淲e only started hearing and talking about 萝莉视频 and the Gulf states in the last decade. This has been reflected in our media as well,鈥� she said.
She said there was great attention in the Turkish media to the crown prince鈥檚 visit. 鈥淚n general, Turkish media is keenly following the visit,鈥� she said.
According to her, the recent visit of Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir created a very favorable environment. 鈥淗e delivered a keynote address at a very important think-tank (SETA) on Sept. 9 on Saudi-Turkish relations. He explained in detail the need for a cooperative approach in a region that is increasingly being transformed.鈥�
She said the Saudi minister delivered a 鈥渨onderful speech and took questions from the media. He was very articulate; I attended it and saw huge interest by the media in his speech and in his visit. All that was very positive for the relationship,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 see negative news about 萝莉视频 in the Turkish media, precisely because of the excellent relations that exist between the two countries.鈥�
Cengiz said there were reports about a Turkish delegation visiting the Kingdom in October. 鈥淭hese high-level visits are significant; their timings are significant,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese are indications of the further strengthening of ties between the two countries.鈥�