Three and a half years after Khashoggi's murder: Turkey and Saudi Arabia agree on "a new era of cooperation"

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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammen bin Salman (left) and the Turkish head of state Erdoğan: Cooperation on a political, economic, military and security policy level

Photo: MRAT CETINMUHURDAR HANDOUT/EPA

Turkey and Saudi Arabia want to start a "new era of cooperation" more than three years after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

During talks between Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, both countries emphasized cooperation at political, economic, military and security levels, among other things, it said in a joint statement.

It was the crown prince's first visit to Turkey since the anti-government Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

The assassination of the Washington Post columnist had strained relations between the two countries.

Ankara and Riyadh are now striving for complete normalization.

US intelligence services see the 36-year-old crown prince as the mastermind behind the Khashoggi murder.

The Saudi royal family denies the claim.

The Turkish government had also made accusations against Saudi Arabia and negotiated the murder in its own country - but then, to the outrage of many, handed over the court case to Saudi Arabia in April.

Observers see primarily economic interests behind the rapprochement

Both sides also want to work to boost investment in areas such as energy, tourism and defense and facilitate mutual trade, the statement said.

Erdoğan traveled to Saudi Arabia for the first time since the murder in April and said he wanted to intensify relations.

Observers see primarily economic interests behind the rapprochement.

Turkey is in a currency crisis with more than 70 percent inflation.

Crown Prince Mohammed was partially isolated internationally because of the Kashoggi murder.

In the meantime, there is also a rapprochement with other countries.

US President Joe Biden is expected in the UK in July.

The official head of state of Saudi Arabia is actually King Salman.

At the age of 86, however, he is increasingly frail and has handed over many powers to his son Mohammed.

asa/dpa