Both countries seek a close strategic cooperation at the highest level and therefore have established a joint council, dealing with security issues and promoting military, political and economic cooperation, the newspaper reported, referring to Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
The Council is headed by the foreign ministries of both countries and is aimed at a ‘qualitative’ strengthening of bilateral ties, al-Jubeir stated.
Saudi Arabia is the US and EU’s closest ally in the Middle East. The alliance would, therefore, be beneficial for Turkey, whose relations with the West may slowly deteriorate amid the country’s unauthorized military activities in Iraq.
Although Brussels asked Turkey for help in resolving the current refugee crisis, the goals of the EU and Turkey may become incompatible in the long run because Ankara seeks to get much more in return, including a visa-free regime with Europe and assurances of their future membership in the union. With this regard Turkey is in need of new powerful allies, with Saudi Arabia being the perfect choice among the Middle Eastern countries.
“Both countries seek to expand their influence in the region. However, they are facing a strong alliance, which Russia established in cooperation with Iraq, Syria and Iran,” DWN wrote.
The countries have already enhanced their diplomatic relations as well as military cooperation. Previously Saudi leader King Salman met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia announced the establishment of an Islamic anti-terror coalition of 34 countries, which also includes Turkey; Sputnik reported.
S/SH
string(2284) "[{"id":"1763664","sort":"3467900","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2015/11/26/alalam_635841510431295251_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Turkey Sends 20 Tanks, 18 Jets to Border: Readies for War with Russia"} ,{"id":"1763672","sort":"3467899","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2015/11/26/alalam_635841526682365201_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Russia Sends Warships to Mediterranean, War with Turkey Imminent"} ,{"id":"1763735","sort":"3467898","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2015/11/26/alalam_635841681672191855_25f_4x3.mp4","title":"Putin: Turkey Intentionally Seeking Stop in Ties with Russia + VIDEO"} ,{"id":"1763912","sort":"3467897","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2015/11/27/alalam_635842250147192347_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Turkey Withdraws Flights in Syria, Fear Sparking Crisis with Russia"} ,{"id":"1764207","sort":"3467896","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2015/11/28/alalam_635843049839685010_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Russia will Suspend Visa-Free Travel to Turkey"} ,{"id":"1764651","sort":"3467895","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2015/11/29/alalam_635844141823896669_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Turkey-Russia Boiling Point: Will Putin Retaliates for Downing Jet?"} ,{"id":"1765178","sort":"3467894","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2015/12/01/alalam_635845651586681054_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"NATO Urges Turkey to Deescalate Tensions with Russia over Su-24 Downing"} ,{"id":"1765214","sort":"3467893","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2015/12/01/alalam_635845707023217501_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Turkey Shot Warplane to Protect Its Oil Trade with ISIS: Russia + Video"} ,{"id":"1767964","sort":"3467892","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2015/12/10/alalam_635853549953504165_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Turkish Media on Alert as Russia Encircles Turkey with Combat Armor"} ,{"id":"1772772","sort":"3467891","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2015/12/25/alalam_635866588579629567_25f_4x3.mp4","title":"VIDEO: Russia Detects 12,000 Oil Tankers on Turkey-Iraq Border"} ,{"id":"1774408","sort":"3467890","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2015/12/31/alalam_635871500578838276_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Russia to Turkey: Arrest Murderer of Downed Su-24 Jet Pilot"} ,{"id":"1774693","sort":"3467889","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2016/01/01/alalam_635872369895232795_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Russia Rejects Turkey Accusations of Civilians Death in Syria Airstrikes"} ]"