Turkish President Erdogan will visit Saudi Arabia, stir in West Asia

Ottoman Empire troops had previously attacked and destroyed the Saudi state capital Diriyah and the outskirts of Riyadh.

Meanwhile, in 1818, King Abdullah bin Saud of Saudi Arabia was beheaded in Istanbul. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was first destroyed by the Ottoman Empire in 1818 and the second time in 1871. Saudi Arabia's third attempt was successful when it supported Britain in the First World War and the Ottoman Empire had to face it.

The Ottoman Empire was reduced to modern Turkey in 1924 and the current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is said to have taken inspiration from that empire. But now the era is not of the Ottoman period. Saudi and Turkey have been trying to clear the dust of their relationship in recent years.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a visit to Saudi Arabia next month. Relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been strained in recent years.

Erdogan also plans to visit the United Arab Emirates next month. It is being said that Erdogan is now working on a strategy to end the bitterness in relations with the Gulf countries.

Erdogan has indicated that he wants to increase exports from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia's pro-Ashraq News and other Arab media outlets have prominently shared the video of the announcement of Erdogan's departure to Saudi Arabia. Erdogan made this announcement in Istanbul on January 3.

In the video, journalists from Erdogan are seen asking questions about the low exports from Turkey to Saudi Arabia in recent years. In response to this question, Erdogan said, "Saudi officials are waiting for me. They are expecting me to go to Saudi Arabia. I will go to Saudi Arabia in February.

There has been a lot of turmoil in West Asia since the arrival of Joe Biden in America. The countries of this region are forgetting their enmity. Talks are going on between Saudi and Iran. In November, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi went to Istanbul and Turkish President Erdoan is announcing a visit to Saudi Arabia. What is all this development pointing towards?

turmoil in West Asia

Talmiz Ahmed, India's ambassador to the Gulf countries, says, "There has been an increase in mistrust of America. West Asia is now out of America's strategy. Biden's full focus is on China in the Indo-Pacific. On the other hand, the way America handed over Afghanistan to the Taliban and covered its sack-bed, a message was also sent from it that America does not reach any work to a logical end. There has been an atmosphere of mistrust regarding relations with America.

Talmiz Ahmed says, "Weird activities are happening in West Asia. New alliances are being formed. A lot has changed since Biden's arrival. It was not needed when Trump was there. After the arrival of Biden, there is a stir in the Middle East. Biden is saying that he is not interested in West Asia.

"If the issue of Afghanistan happened, then the confusion about it increased and this has increased the mistrust of America in West Asia. The countries of the Gulf are feeling that they will have to run their diplomacy in this area. Saudi Arabia itself is talking to Iran. UAE itself is going to Turkey. A new environment has started.

Talmiz Ahmed says, "Biden's intelligence in front of Putin and Xi Jinping seems insufficient. The campaign that Trump had started for the acceptance of Israel was over. Biden tried to pursue it but Indonesia refused. There is no result regarding Yemen.

"Turkey's approach is Strategic Autonomy. He does not want to enter into a permanent alliance with anyone. His principal is that Turkey should have a role. Erdogan is taking inspiration from Ottoman tradition. The relationships that are being built now are issue-based. There is no alliance. There is no compulsion in this. There is competition and there is cooperation. Neto is not obligatory for them. Turkey asked for a Patriot missile from America, if it did not give, Erdogan took the S-400 from Russia.

Erdogan's announcement in Saudi stir

Saudi Arabia has not issued any official statement regarding this tour. But the coverage of Erdogan's announcement has been prominent in Saudi Arabian media. Okaz and al-Marsad have attached great importance to Erdogan's declaration. Saudi Arabia has also been criticized by some nationalists as saying that Erdogan's meeting with the Saudi leadership reflects Saudi clout in the region.

Saudi Arabia's political commentator Turki al-Faisal al-Rashid said, "Many things are happening in our favor because of the wisdom of our leadership. It is also good for this region.

A Saudi nationalist Twitter user mocked Erdogan's announcement of his arrival in Saudi Arabia, writing, "I requested Saudi Arabia for an appointment and they have permitted to come in February."

Apart from this, many political activists of Saudi Arabia have opposed the upcoming visit of Erdogan. Abdullah Aloudh, director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), tweeted: "The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, just requested Erdoan to stop the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. In this case, the name of Saudi Arabia should not be mentioned in the Turkish media. This request was related to the security and economy of Saudi Arabia.

importance of Saudi

At the same time, the Saudi government worked to prevent its citizens from going to Turkey and the use of goods made there. However, last year, many initiatives were started between the two countries at the diplomatic level.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Chousolo visited Saudi Arabia in October last year. Apart from this, Erdogan spoke to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the phone.

Saudi Arabia has increased talks with the Erdogan government amid growing closeness between Turkey and the UAE. Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and seen as the de facto ruler of the UAE, visited Turkey in November last year. This visit was astonishing. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are apprehensive about a future US presence in the Middle East and are therefore engaged in expanding regional partnerships.

Foreign policy rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has also increased in recent years. Saudi Arabia is also trying to balance its presence by repairing ties with Ankara amid the UAE's growing influence in Turkey. The United Arab Emirates has signed an investment agreement with Turkey. This agreement has come at a time when Turkey's economy is facing trouble on many fronts.

Erdogan's compulsion

The Turkish currency lira has historically weakened. The gap between imports and export is also increasing continuously. Inflation in Turkey reached 36.1% last month. The lira fell by 44 percent in 2021. The effect of the declining exports from Saudi Arabia has been directly on Turkey's economy.

According to a Bloomberg report, Turkish businessmen complained that they were facing an unofficial boycott in Saudi Arabia. Turkey's exports to Saudi Arabia declined from 1.02 billion riyals to 506 million riyals in December 2019. There was a decline of 95 percent.

According to statistics from the Turkish Statistics Agency, Turkey's exports to Saudi Arabia decreased by 78% in 2020. Saudi imports the most from China, Japan, and India. Turkey has elections next year and the continuing decline in its economy is worrying for Erdoan. Erdogan wants to improve relations with Saudi and increase exports.

If Saudi Arabia's relationship with Turkey improves, it can help in increasing the security partnership. Turkey can provide military equipment and drones to Saudi Arabia. But what is happening in West Asia nowadays is being directly related to the change in the politics of the Middle East.