In this file photo dated March 22, 2022, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (not seen) give a joint news conference after talks at the presidential complex in Ankara. (ADEM ALTAN / AFP)
ANKARA – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Saudi Arabia late Thursday, as part of efforts to mend ties, his office announced.
"All aspects of the relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia will be reviewed, and steps aimed at enhancing the cooperation between the two countries will be discussed at the talks to be held as part of the visit," the Turkish presidency said, adding that regional and international matters will also be on the agenda.
The relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia strained after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018
The Turkish president will meet King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, local media reported.
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The relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia strained after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018, as Turkish officials alleged that Khashoggi was killed by a team of Saudi agents.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been working on a rapprochement for months as the two sides agree to put the Khashoggi issue behind them.
This is also part of a broader effort by Turkey to mend ties with Arab countries in the Gulf after years of strained relations following the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.
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