Saudi-Turkish relations

Turkey's relationship with the Arab world extends back several centuries, due to its geographical location and its historical power, influence, and control during certain periods of history, particularly the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the Arab region for over four hundred years as part of its vast empire. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in World War I and the subsequent creation of new states in the region after the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916, Turkey turned westward. Its influence had diminished, and it was only in the latter half of the 20th century that Turkey began to reassert itself as a regional power, leveraging its resources. The Arab region in general, and Saudi Arabia in particular, are among Turkey's strategic regional interests. This is due to concerns about Turkish national security, stemming from perceived threats emanating from some Arab states, as well as fundamental economic motives, which are no less important than security concerns. Consequently, Turkey's engagement with the Arab region and Saudi Arabia has been largely driven by economic interests. Saudi-Turkish relations, which officially began in 1929, have evolved and faced numerous obstacles throughout their history. This book is based on the premise that "e;the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is currently seeking to establish cooperation and coordination with the Republic of Turkey in various political, economic, and security aspects in order to create a security balance in the region, particularly after Iraq's removal from the regional equation."e;