President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan departed from Türkiye on Monday for an official visit to Kuwait, marking the first leg of a broader Gulf tour aimed at deepening Ankara's diplomatic, economic, and security partnerships in the region.

The presidential aircraft, TRK, took off from Istanbul's Atatürk Airport at 9:30 a.m. local time. The departure ceremony was attended by Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir, and other government officials.

Joined by First Lady Emine Erdoğan and a heavyweight delegation, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, and National Intelligence Organization Chief İbrahim Kalın, Erdoğan arrived in Kuwait City to a ceremonial welcome.

During his visit to Kuwait, President Erdoğan is scheduled to hold one-on-one and delegation-level meetings with the country's new Emir, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. A series of agreements covering various fields are expected to be signed during formal ceremonies, signaling a new phase in bilateral relations.

This Gulf tour is a continuation of Türkiye's concerted effort to reset and strengthen its ties with Gulf Arab states. After a period of regional tensions, Ankara has actively pursued a diplomacy drive over the past year, resulting in significant investments and financial cooperation packages from countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The visit to Kuwait is particularly strategic as it represents one of President Erdoğan's first major state visits to the country under Emir Sheikh Mishal, who assumed power in December 2023. Building a strong personal rapport with the new leadership is a key objective.

Analysts suggest that President Erdoğan’s Gulf tour is focused on several core goals, including attracting investment, as evidenced by the presence of Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, with a primary aim to secure further foreign direct investment to support Türkiye’s economic stabilization program.

Energy cooperation is another key objective, with Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar expected to discuss long-term energy partnerships and potential collaborations in the oil and gas sector. Defense exports are also a priority, highlighted by the inclusion of Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and the head of the Defense Industries Presidency, reflecting Türkiye’s ambition to expand its footprint as a leading defense exporter to the Gulf region.

Finally, the high-level talks will address diplomatic alignment on ongoing regional issues, including the situation in Gaza and stability in the broader Middle East, where Türkiye seeks to play an influential role.

Following his meetings in Kuwait, President Erdoğan is expected to continue his tour with visits to other key Gulf nations, further solidifying Ankara's re-engagement with this pivotal region. (ILKHA)