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Biden Presidency, Economic Realities Spur Turkey-Saudi Rapprochement

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - Turkey's relations with Saudi Arabia appear to be thawing
   after years of regional rivalry, with both countries' leaders pledging
   to improve bilateral ties. Analysts suggest factors that are leading to
   the improvement in ties could be economic matters as well as an
   incoming Joe Biden presidency.'¯

   "President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and King Salman agreed to keep
   channels of dialogue open to improve bilateral ties and overcome
   issues," a Turkish presidency statement said after the two leaders
   spoke by phone earlier in November.

   The leaders' conversation has been followed by similar warm statements
   by the Turkish and Saudi foreign ministers who met in Niger on the
   sidelines of an Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting.

   "A strong Turkey-Saudi Arabia partnership will be beneficial not just
   for our countries, but for the whole region," Turkish foreign minister
   Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted.

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