By Jaber Al Harami
Many observers look at the Saudi-Turkish summit today between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a lot of optimism to address many challenging issues facing the region due to the influence of the two countries. All such issues require concerted efforts. It is believed the coordination between the two countries would restore the balance between major regional powers.
The visit itself will strengthen relations between the countries after the “coldness” and will put an end to all rumours about deteriorating ties between the two countries. The two nations have more things in common rather than differences and this will help them to work together for the betterment of the region at this critical time.
On the other hand, there are many direct challenges facing the two countries, such as the challenge of IS which is looking at Saudi Arabia through its border with Iraq, and Turkey through its border with Syria. This shows the necessity of cooperation in fighting the common enemy before it goes out of control.
The two countries also agree that Bashar Al Assad must be removed because of the brutal crimes he has committed against his people in the past four years. The Syrian crisis, which has entered its fifth year, has claimed the lives of more than 350,000, and more than 10 million have become refugees or are internally displaced. Not only this, the two parties also agree that the moderate Syrian opposition should be supported and trained including the Syrian Free Army, at the time the regime is still receiving support from his allies like Iran and Russia or from militant groups from some neighbouring countries.
The fact is that the cooperation between the two countries during the past years on several issues continued, particularly over the Syrian crisis, but the current phase of relations will lead to further coordination under pressure from many other regional powers seeking expansion and imposing new situation on the ground at the expense of historical factors and traditional powers in
the area.
In this context, there are talks about re-division of the region regardless of whether it is division based on traditional concept of geography or influences, the region is entering a new phase of conflicts between some parties unless the regional and international powers solve the burning issues. The required solutions should be away from the policy of calming down the crisis instead of fully solving and finding ways for coexistence of different components far from the sectarian sorting. The appearance of extremist and terrorist organisations in Syria and Iraq are not the only factors that brought the two countries together, but there are important bilateral interests and investment projects across a wide range of economic sectors.
The Yemeni crisis has also emerged as another challenging factor recently after the Houthis took power in Sana’a through a military coup. The Houthis are representing a real danger as they are trying to impose new situation on the ground in Yemen by ending the legitimate authority, and threatening the neighbouring counties, which became clear from the statements released by the Houthi officials. Many Houthi leaders have threatened Saudi Arabia and Qatar directly and some other countries including Turkey.
The situation in Egypt is also expected to be discussed by the two leaders but not expected to result in a meeting between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Al Sisi who visited Riyadh for a few hours. The differences between Cairo and Ankara are bigger than can be solved in a day’s meeting. The Turkish side is sensitive towards military coups. But the Saudi King, because of his political experience, is expected to contain the dispute or narrow the gap between the two countries. King Salman believes that there are many issues that should be prioritised and countries of this region need to stand united against the challenging issues and the king has enough experience to play an important regional role to end such differences and face current challenges.
There are many entities which have the hidden agenda of destabilising and disuniting the countries of this region, by dragging them into wars. Saudi is aware of this. Therefore, it is trying to play the role of a leader to end tampering with the future of the people of the region.
The benefit of the Saudi-Turkish integration will extend to the entire region. Therefore, people of the region are looking forward to the meeting of the two leaders.
