RIYADH: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed on Tuesday that his country was prepared to mediate between Iran and the US to ease tensions between them, warning against any step that may spark war in the region.
Erdogan arrived in Riyadh on an official visit on Tuesday. In an interview to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said relations between Riyadh and Ankara have strategic importance for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
He revealed that his visit aims to expand bilateral consultations on regional issues, especially the situation in Gaza and Syria, as well as elevate bilateral ties to broader horizons.
Erdogan said: “Turkiye and Saudi Arabia are two friendly countries with deep historical ties, strong state traditions, and a shared sense of regional responsibility. We have never viewed this relationship through a narrow lens confined solely to bilateral matters. This is because the valuable friendship between our two countries also carries a strategic significance for the peace, stability, and prosperity of our region as a whole.”
“As a natural outcome of this understanding, Turkiye-Saudi Arabia relations constitute a line of stability that goes beyond economic cooperation alone, encompassing consultation, coordination, and the strengthening of common wisdom. Indeed, in our previous meetings with Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, we addressed not only bilateral relations but also regional and global issues, and reaffirmed our mutual determination to further deepen our cooperation in the period ahead,” he added.
