Turkish Foreign Minister for talks to settle ties with Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia News

The trip came at a time when the two countries want to re-establish a close relationship after the death of a Saudi journalist in Istanbul in 2018.

Turkey’s foreign minister has arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks, his first trip since journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated in Istanbul in 2018, which has strained relations between the two countries.

Mevlut Cavusoglu’s visit, apparently aimed at resolving relations with Riyadh, was sparked by the Israeli-occupied compound in the Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem.

Turkish officials said Cavusoglu’s visit could lead to discussions about possible sales of Turkish drones to Saudi Arabia, and said Riyadh had requested it.

In #SaudiArabia to discuss bilateral relations and important regional issues, especially the attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the oppression of the Palestinian people. pic.twitter.com/9SKoE52ifP

– Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) May 10, 2021

“To discuss bilateral relations in Saudi Arabia and important issues in the region, especially the attacks on the Al-Aqsa mosque and the oppression of the Palestinian people,” Cavusoglu wrote on Twitter.

The Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Sheikh, is visiting Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Monday evening and will meet with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to discuss bilateral ties and regional and international issues of common interest.

Qatar has close relations with Turkey and the latter may facilitate talks with Riyadh after the two Gulf countries reached a three-year breakthrough in the conflict in January. No further details were given in the document issued by the Emir’s office.

More than 300 Palestinians were injured on Monday, according to the Palestinian Red Moon, after Israeli police fired rubber-coated bullets and tear gas at worshipers at the Al-Aqsa mosque building.

Fixing links

Ankara’s relations with Riyadh deteriorated greatly in October 2018 after the death of Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Saudi journalist who wrote critical columns for the Washington newspaper Washington.

Khashoggi was killed by a group of Saudi agents and disbanded inside the consulate in the kingdom of Istanbul after joining a diplomatic set to obtain documents before marrying Turkish bride Hatice Cengiz.

His death and subsequent disappearance of his body have tarnished the image of the MBS and plunged Riyadh into a diplomatic crisis.

The crisis led to an unofficial boycott of Saudi Arabian trade, which reduced the value of Turkish imports by 98%. Saudi Arabia also closes eight Turkish schools in the kingdom, Anadolu reported last month.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the time that the order to kill Khashoggi had come from the hands of Saudi high authorities.

Turkey has also tried in absentia two former aides to the crown prince, along with 24 other suspects.

Saharan interest in Turkish drones

But Turkey has been taking steps to resolve its relations with Saudi Arabia, which remains an important trading partner.

Last week, Erdogan spoke by telephone with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, although he did not provide details about those talks.

Cavusoglu’s two-day visit to Turkey last week was aimed at resolving serious relations with Egypt, another regional power allied with the US, following talks in Turkey.

A senior Turkish official has said the trade embargo and the Syrian and Libyan conflicts will be discussed with Saudi Arabia. The Saudi demand for Turkish armed drones could also be on the agenda, the two Turkish officials said.

Erdogan said in March that Saudi Arabia wanted to buy unmanned aerial vehicles. Several countries have expressed interest in drones, which were used in the conflict in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh.