Strategic Axis: Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Chart the Path for Regional Stability

Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have reiterated their alignment on safeguarding maritime security and maintaining regional stability.

A recent phone call between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled an evolving strategic partnership based on shared security imperatives, mutual economic interests, and a proactive approach to regional crisis management.

Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, Riyadh and Ankara have ramped up coordination to navigate shared challenges and chart a unified blueprint for lasting stability across the Middle East and beyond.

Red Sea Security

The Big Picture: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Erdogan held a phone call on Monday, during which they discussed the latest regional developments, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Driving the News: Erdogan reiterated Ankara’s condemnation of Houthi militia attacks against vessels in the Red Sea, reaffirming Türkiye’s full support for Saudi Arabia.

Backstory: The Iranian-backed Houthi militia has escalated threats around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, declaring a “naval blockade” on Saudi Arabia and targeting its vessels in the Red Sea. In response, the Saudi-led Arab coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen conducted strikes on the militia’s legitimate military targets used to threaten commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Protecting Maritime Routes

Go Deeper: The Turkish President welcomed the recently established Saudi-led multinational maritime defense coalition, expressing hope it will succeed in achieving its core objectives.

The Context: On July 30, 2026, Saudi Arabia announced the formation of the Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition, alongside other 13 founding members, to address and deter the growing threats to maritime security, including attacks against commercial vessels, energy tankers, and naval infrastructure in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

Prioritizing Diplomacy

The Pivot: During his call with the Saudi Crown Prince, Erdogan underscored Türkiye’s commitment to achieving lasting peace and ensuring stability and security across the region, according to the Turkish Communications Directorate.

State of Play: As two regional heavyweights, both Saudi Arabia and Türkiye prioritize political solutions and de-escalation over military force. Riyadh and Ankara have shared political positions on key regional issues, including Gaza, Syria, and Sudan, as well as the US-Iran conflict.

Gaza

Erdogan stressed that Israel’s full compliance with phase two of the Gaza Peace Plan roadmap is essential for the plan’s success, adding that Türkiye is closely monitoring the developments.

Türkiye is one of the Gaza deal mediators, alongside Egypt, Qatar, and the US. Most recently, Ankara, Cairo, and Doha issued a joint statement strongly denouncing Israel’s ongoing violations in Gaza, stressing the need for Israel to fully uphold its commitments under the ceasefire agreement.

Saudi Arabia has spearheaded a sustained diplomatic push for advancing the two-state solution and the recognition of an independent Palestinian State along the 1967 borders (which involves the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip), with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Kingdom believes that a comprehensive political settlement, anchored in the full implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan, is the only viable way for a just and lasting peace.

Syria

Riyadh and Ankara have emerged as the leading backers of the Syrian transitional government, led by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa. Both countries have prioritized Syria’s return to the Arab fold, focusing their efforts on economic recovery and large-scale reconstruction to facilitate the safe return of refugees to a unified and stable Syrian state.

Sudan

Both countries have underscored their shared commitment to state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and economic recovery in Sudan, coordinating diplomatic and humanitarian responses to the current crisis through regional and international platforms.

Red Sea & the Horn of Africa

The strategic coordination between Saudi Arabia and Türkiye extends to the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. Their shared objective is to restore central state authority and protect vital maritime corridors, ensuring the Red Sea remains a zone of security and prosperity.

US-Iran Conflict

Riyadh and Ankara have consistently called for de-escalation and dialogue, supporting the mediation efforts of Pakistan and Qatar to reach a ceasefire deal. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has ramped up diplomatic efforts to prevent major escalation in the conflict. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump called off a major attack on Iran following a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in which he stressed the need to prioritize dialogue and de-escalation to navigate the current crisis and warned against the wider implications of escalation.

The Anchors

The Context: The political coordination between Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is grounded in high-level bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council

Established in 2016, the Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council is designed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries across various fields, advance common interests, and coordinate efforts on regional and international issues.

Regional Four Group

The Regional Four (R-4) is a quadrilateral consultative framework bringing together Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, and Pakistan. It focuses on boosting joint coordination and unifying positions in the face of the rapidly evolving developments and dangerous military escalation in the Middle East.

Timeline: Riyadh convened the first R-4 meeting on March 18, following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran and blatant Iranian aggression against countries in the region. The group met again on March 29 in Islamabad, April 17 in Antalya, and June 21 in Cairo.

Defense Cooperation

By the Numbers:

• 2023: The Saudi Defense Ministry signed a multi-billion-dollar export contract with Turkish drone giant Baykar, alongside follow-up agreements to localize manufacturing of the Akıncı Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) inside the Kingdom.
• 2026: Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed an MoU during the World Defense Show in Riyadh for joint local production of the Turkish indigenous Gökbey multirole helicopter.

What to Watch: Discussions are also underway for Saudi Arabia’s joint investment and participation in Türkiye’s KAAN stealth fighter jet program – an initiative that Turkish President Erdogan explicitly confirmed could be activated as a full partnership.