Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, co-chaired the second meeting of the Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council in Riyadh on Sunday, reaffirming the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.

The high-level talks highlighted enhanced cooperation in diplomacy, trade, security, and regional stability, with a focus on issues impacting the Islamic world.

Speaking at the meeting, Fidan praised the robust Turkish-Saudi relationship, built on shared history and humanitarian ties. “Our relations have proven their strength in the face of challenges,” he said, emphasizing the “sincere and close cooperation” driven by the leadership of both countries. He underscored the shared goal of fostering peace and stability in the region.

A key focus was the booming economic relationship, with bilateral trade reaching $8 billion in 2024. Fidan outlined ambitious targets to grow trade to $10 billion in 2025 and $30 billion in the medium-to-long term, noting the complementary nature of the two economies. “The Coordination Council will play a key role in achieving this goal,” he added.

The meeting saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Türkiye’s Diplomacy Academy and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, bolstering collaboration in diplomatic training and knowledge exchange.

This was Fidan’s third visit to Saudi Arabia in the past year, following a trip in January 2025. Prince Faisal reciprocated with a visit to Türkiye in April for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation–Arab League Gaza Contact Group summit in Antalya, reflecting close coordination on regional issues, particularly the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

Established in 2016, the Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council institutionalizes cooperation through five subcommittees focused on diplomacy, security, culture, social development, and economics. The first meeting was held in Ankara in 2017.

Both nations reiterated their commitment to joint efforts on regional challenges, including through the Gaza Contact Group, signaling a united front for peace and unity in the Islamic world. (ILKHA)