Turkish President Erdogan Visits Saudi Arabia, Aims to Strengthen Bilateral Ties Amid Regional Tensions.

The Turkish president will spend Friday in Riyadh for a routine diplomatic visit, marking his second trip to Saudi Arabia this year and his first since the tensions in the region escalated with the US‑Israel war on Iran. According to Ankara’s communications office, the agenda will focus on bilateral relationships and regional developments, but officials have not released a formal schedule. A joint meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected, and sources report that the three leaders may sign a joint defence agreement in Jeddah. While the pact’s generic terms appear agreed, no government has confirmed the signing publicly. The visit comes after Saudi Arabia announced a multinational maritime security initiative in the Red Sea, Bab al‑Mandeb strait and Gulf of Aden. Fourteen nations, including Turkey and Pakistan, have backed the coalition. Earlier this year the conflict between the United States and Israel sparked Iranian missile and drone attacks on U.S. troop bases in the region. The war has also caused heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and renewed clashes with the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Following their February meeting, Ankara and Riyadh issued a joint statement calling for enhanced economic, energy and security cooperation, a ceasefire in Gaza and support for the recognized government in Yemen. The outcome of Friday’s talks will still need public confirmation, and it is possible that the leaders will only issue a modest joint statement instead of formalising an alliance.