By Fatih Ulusoy, Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
One hundred years ago, on October 29, 1923, the Turkish nation, under the visionary leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, laid the foundation for a sovereign, modern, democratic, and progressive Türkiye. After the First World War and following its dedicated sacrifices during the Independence War, Türkiye was reborn with the strong commitment and tireless efforts of the Turkish people as a modern republic. As members of the Turkish nation, we are proud of this extraordinary journey and the remarkable progress our nation has made in the first century of the republic.
Türkiye's centennial anniversary marks a significant milestone in the nation's history, reflecting a journey of resilience, progress, and enduring friendships. One such deep-rooted historical connection is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a partnership that spans decades and continues to flourish. Türkiye and Saudi Arabia stand out as evidence of the enduring power of diplomacy and cooperation.
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia share a rich history of diplomatic, economic, and cultural cooperation. Our bilateral relations have consistently deepened, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Both nations have played pivotal roles in promoting peace and stability in the region.
Türkiye was among the first countries to recognize the Kingdom of Hejaz and Najd in 1926. In the same year, Türkiye established its diplomatic representation and appointed Süleyman Şevket Bey as Chargé d'Affaires to Saudi Arabia. Both Türkiye and Saudi Arabia were among the few independent Muslim states during the interwar period and colonialism. This recognition laid the foundation for a lasting friendship that has withstood for long decades. On August 3, 1929, the "Treaty of Friendship" was signed between the two countries. On September 23, 1932, "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" was established, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was one of the first leaders to send a congratulatory message to King Abdulaziz.
Late King Faisal met with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Ankara on June 12, 1932, further strengthening the bonds of brotherhood between the two nations. On that day, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk received Prince Faisal and hosted a dinner in his honor. During his stay in Türkiye, he attended Turkish Army’s maneuvers in Ankara and visited Turkish military industry’s facilities in Kırıkkale. This historic visit set the stage for future collaborations and cooperation in various fields between the two countries. King Faisal also paid a visit to Türkiye in 1966.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received the 2010 King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam from the late King Abdullah. In the same year, two countries signed an agreement on military cooperation, which aims at training, scientific and technical cooperation in the military field. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also visited Saudi Arabia in 2011, 2012, 2017, and 2022. On July 17, 2023, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Saudi Arabia accompanied by ministers, senior officials, and over 200 business people. During this visit, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia signed a series of deals, including investment, the defense industry, energy, and media.
Türkiye's growing cooperation with Saudi Arabia is evident in the increasing frequency of high-level visits, including President Erdoğan's recent visit to Saudi Arabia. Collaboration between ministers, private sector executives, and businessmen is expanding, indicating that the relationship between our nations will continue to strengthen.
The depth of the bond between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia was evident when Türkiye was struck by the disaster of the century in early February. Saudi Arabia was among the first countries to send search and rescue teams, provided essential aid materials. This solidarity further strengthened the bond of brotherhood that existed between the two nations. As the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Riyadh, I would like to express my gratitude once again to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and to the people of brotherly Saudi Arabia for their support during the earthquake period.
Over the past century, Türkiye has undergone a remarkable economic transformation. It has risen to become one of the world's top 20 economies. Today, Türkiye ranks as the 19th largest economy globally by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This growth is a testament to Türkiye’s determination, resilience, and progress. With a dynamic population of 85 million, Türkiye is the production hub in the region. Within the framework of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s “Century of Türkiye" vision, Türkiye is implementing projects such as digitalization, advanced technology, space, innovation in agriculture, green transformation in industry, renewable energy, combating climate change, high levels of localization in the automotive and defense industry, diversification of tourism, and maintaining its leading role in the construction and infrastructure field.
Türkiye is ready to make its best efforts to share its strength, its know-how and experience with brotherly Saudi Arabia in all the projects within the massive transformation going on in Saudi Arabia under "Vision 2030" under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman. President Erdoğan announced the support of Türkiye for Riyadh to host Expo 2030. In a similar manner, the Turkish Football Federation expressed its strong support for Saudi Arabia to host the World Football Cup in 2034.
The strategic location of Türkiye at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Caucasus, and Central Asia makes it a vital actor on the global arena. Customs Union with the European Union (EU) has provided Türkiye with access to multiple markets. Türkiye has also established essential energy transit lines for oil and natural gas transport, enhancing its importance in the global energy landscape.
Türkiye's appeal extends beyond its economic power. It ranks as the 4th most visited country in the world, drawing tourists with its rich cultural heritage and attractive landscapes. Additionally, Türkiye has emerged as a leader in health tourism, boasting cutting-edge medical technology. Since January, over 700 thousand fellow Saudi Arabian citizens have visited our country for tourism purposes. We are committed to work more in order to welcome more Saudi brothers and sisters to our country in the coming years, hopefully at least one million per year. In this regard, Saudi citizens will be benefiting from (not only single but) multiple entry electronic visas for Türkiye, which could be obtained in two minutes via mobile phone.
Moreover, Türkiye boasts an impressive defense industry, with around 80 percent localization. This achievement has positioned Türkiye as a significant global exporter in the defense sector. The defense industry will remain as a key component in further strengthening our bilateral cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
In addition to its NATO membership and contributions to missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan, Türkiye is a valued member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). As members of the OIC, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia continue to address the challenges of our time side by side within the framework of the OIC.
Türkiye is also strengthening its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The strategic dialogue mechanism between Türkiye and the GCC was signed in Jeddah in 2008, which makes Türkiye the first country to establish such a mechanism with the GCC. We now look forward to the next Türkiye-GCC High Level Strategic Dialogue.
Türkiye has consistently demonstrated its commitment to global peace, stability, and prosperity. The "Mediation for Peace" initiative, launched within the United Nations in 2010, underscores Türkiye's dedication to conflict resolution and international mediation. Türkiye and Saudi Arabia both support the peace and stability in the region and the world. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman both highlighted the need for a diplomatic solution in Ukraine. Last year, an agreement was signed with the mediation of Türkiye for Ukraine's grain exports to re-enter the world market. Thanks to this agreement, many Middle Eastern countries were relatively less affected by the global food crisis. Regarding the recent conflict in Gaza, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia both are working hard with active diplomacy to ensure peace and stability, prevent civilians from being targeted, and allowing humanitarian access. Both countries also emphasized the importance of addressing the root cause, which is a two-state solution with 1967 borders.
Türkiye's core objective is to promote peace, stability, and prosperity globally, a vision that closely aligns with that of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Together, both nations strive to create a better future for our region and beyond. Türkiye is actively engaged in counterterrorism efforts as a country combating physically against DEASH and PKK/YPG terrorist organizations on the ground. Türkiye’s commitment to eradicating terrorism is evident in its tireless efforts to maintain regional and global security.
As Türkiye commemorates its centennial anniversary, it is not just a celebration of a nation's history of 100 years but a testament to its enduring friendships. The deep-rooted historical ties and shared visions between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia serve as a testament to the importance of diplomacy, cooperation, and solidarity on the world stage. These two nations stand together, committed to a brighter and more prosperous future for the region and the world.
Let us commemorate this significant milestone in the spirit of friendship and collaboration, with the hope that the next century of Turkish-Saudi friendship will be even more robust than the last.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people and leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their friendship and cooperation. I am confident that the future holds even greater promise for our bilateral relations, and together, we will continue to work towards peace, prosperity, and progress in the region and beyond.
