One hundred years ago, on Oct. 29, 1923, the Turkish nation, under the visionary leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, laid the foundations for a sovereign, modern, democratic and progressive Turkiye. After the First World War and following its dedicated sacrifices during the Independence War, Turkiye was reborn as a modern republic thanks to the strong commitment and tireless efforts of the Turkish people. As members of the Turkish nation, we are proud of this extraordinary journey and the remarkable progress our nation has made in the first century of the republic.

Turkiye’s centennial marks a significant milestone in the nation’s history, reflecting a journey of resilience, progress and enduring friendships. One such deep-rooted historical connection is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a partnership that spans decades and continues to flourish. Turkiye and Saudi Arabia stand out as evidence of the enduring power of diplomacy and cooperation.

These two countries share a rich history of diplomatic, economic and cultural cooperation. Our bilateral relations have consistently deepened, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Both nations have played pivotal roles in promoting peace and stability in the region.

Turkiye was among the first countries to recognize the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd in 1926. In the same year, Turkiye established its diplomatic representation and appointed Suleyman Sevket Bey as charge d’affaires to Saudi Arabia. Turkiye and Saudi Arabia were among the few independent Muslim states during the interwar period. This recognition laid the foundation for a lasting friendship. On Aug. 3, 1929, a Treaty of Friendship was signed between the two countries. In September 1932, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established and Ataturk was one of the first leaders to send a congratulatory message to King Abdulaziz.

Also in 1932, King Faisal, then a young prince, met with Ataturk in Ankara, further strengthening the bonds of brotherhood between the two nations. On that day, the Turkish leader received Faisal and hosted a dinner in his honor. During his stay in Turkiye, he attended Turkish army maneuvers in Ankara and visited the Turkish military industry’s facilities in Kirikkale. This historic visit set the stage for future collaborations and cooperation in various fields between the two countries. King Faisal also paid a visit to Turkiye in 1966.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received the 2010 King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam from the late King Abdullah. In the same year, the two countries signed an agreement on military cooperation. Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia in 2011, 2012, 2017 and 2022. In July this year, he again visited the Kingdom, this time accompanied by ministers, senior officials and more than 200 business people. During this visit, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia signed a series of deals relating to investment, the defense industry, energy and the media, among others.

Turkiye’s growing cooperation with Saudi Arabia is evident in the increasing frequency of high-level visits. Collaborations between ministers, private sector executives and businessmen are expanding, indicating that the relationship between our nations will continue to strengthen.

The depth of the bond between Turkiye and Saudi Arabia was evident when Ankara was struck by a severe earthquake in early February. The Kingdom was among the first countries to send search and rescue teams and provide essential aid materials. This solidarity further strengthened the bond of brotherhood between the two nations. As the ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye to Riyadh, I would like to express my gratitude once again to King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the people of Saudi Arabia for their support during the earthquake period.

Over the past century, Turkiye has undergone a remarkable economic transformation. It has risen to become one of the world’s top 20 economies. Today, Turkiye ranks as the 19th-largest economy globally by gross domestic product. This growth is a testament to Turkiye’s determination, resilience and progress. With a dynamic population of 85 million, Turkiye is the production hub of the region. Within the framework of Erdogan’s “Century of Turkiye” vision, the country is implementing projects in fields such as digitalization, advanced technology, space, innovation in agriculture, the green transformation in industry, renewable energy, combating climate change, high levels of localization in the automotive and defense industries, diversification of tourism, and maintaining its leading role in construction and infrastructure.

Turkiye is ready to make its best efforts to share its strength, know-how and experience with brotherly Saudi Arabia in all the projects within the massive transformation going on in the Kingdom under Vision 2030. Erdogan has already announced the support of Turkiye for Riyadh hosting Expo 2030. In a similar manner, the Turkish Football Federation has expressed its strong support for Saudi Arabia hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2034.

Turkiye’s growing cooperation with Saudi Arabia is evident in the increasing frequency of high-level visits.

Fatih Ulusoy

The strategic location of Turkiye at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Caucasus and Central Asia makes it a vital actor on the global arena. Its customs union with the EU has provided Turkiye with access to multiple markets. Ankara has also established essential energy transit lines for oil and natural gas, enhancing its importance in the global energy landscape.

Turkiye’s appeal extends beyond its economic power. It ranks fourth in the list of most-visited countries in the world, attracting tourists with its rich cultural heritage and attractive landscapes. Additionally, Turkiye has emerged as a leader in health tourism, boasting cutting-edge medical technology. Since January, more than 700,000 Saudi Arabian citizens have visited our country for tourism purposes. We are committed to welcoming more Saudi brothers and sisters to our country in the coming years, hopefully at least 1 million per year. In this regard, Saudi citizens will benefit from not only single but multiple-entry electronic visas for Turkiye, which can be obtained in two minutes via a mobile phone.

Moreover, Turkiye boasts an impressive defense industry, with about 80 percent localization. This achievement has positioned Turkiye as a significant global exporter in the defense sector. This industry will be a key component in the further strengthening of our bilateral cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

In addition to its NATO membership and contributions to missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan, Turkiye is a valued member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. As members of the OIC, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia continue to address the challenges of our time side by side within the framework of the organization.

Turkiye is also strengthening its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council. The strategic dialogue mechanism between Turkiye and the GCC was signed in Jeddah in 2008, making Turkiye the first country to establish such a mechanism with the bloc. We now look forward to the next Turkiye-GCC High-Level Strategic Dialogue.

Turkiye has consistently demonstrated its commitment to global peace, stability and prosperity. The Mediation for Peace initiative, launched within the UN in 2010, underscores Turkiye’s dedication to conflict resolution and international mediation. Turkiye and Saudi Arabia both support peace and stability in the region and the world.

Erdogan and the crown prince have both highlighted the need for a diplomatic solution in Ukraine. Last year, an agreement was signed with the mediation of Turkiye for Ukraine’s grain exports to reenter the world market. Thanks to this agreement, many Middle Eastern countries were able to avoid the worst of the global food crisis.

Regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia are both working hard to ensure peace and stability, prevent civilians from being targeted and allow humanitarian access. Both countries also emphasized the importance of addressing the root cause, which is the need for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.

Turkiye’s core objective is to promote peace, stability and prosperity globally — a vision that closely aligns with that of the Kingdom. Together, the two nations strive to create a better future for our region and beyond. Turkiye is actively engaged in counterterrorism efforts, as is evident in its tireless efforts to maintain regional and global security.

The occasion of Turkiye’s centennial is not just a celebration of a nation’s 100 years of history, but a testament to its enduring friendships. In particular, the deep-rooted historical ties and shared visions between Turkiye and Saudi Arabia serve as a testament to the importance of diplomacy, cooperation and solidarity on the world stage. These two nations stand together, committed to a brighter and more prosperous future for the region and the world.

Let us commemorate this significant milestone in the spirit of friendship and collaboration, with the hope that the next century of Turkish-Saudi friendship will be even stronger than the last.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people and leadership of the Kingdom for their friendship and cooperation. I am confident that the future holds even greater promise for our bilateral relations and that together we will continue to work toward peace, prosperity and progress in the region and beyond.

• Fatih Ulusoy is Turkiye’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.