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The Turkish War of Independence, fought under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the aftermath of the First World War, ended in an unprecedented victory, leading to the birth of the modern-day Republic of Turkiye.

On Wednesday, we celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkiye. The young republic, deriving strength from its rich history and culture, as well as following its motto “Peace at home, peace abroad,” took decisive steps toward a democratic, stable and prosperous Turkiye domestically and contributed to stability and peace in the region, as well as at the international level.

We are now in a period in which our nation seeks to rise among the major regional and international powers through development, innovation and strategic diplomacy, which we refer to as the “The Century of Turkiye.”

However, we are also acutely aware of the challenges facing our region. Peace and security have been undermined and core principles of international law, including the protection of civilians in armed conflicts and the prohibition of the use of force, are increasingly disregarded by certain actors. These developments underscore the urgent need for enhanced cooperation between Turkiye and ��������, two key regional actors sharing a commitment to peace, stability and international law.

Our countries share similar perspectives on numerous regional issues, such as the implementation of the two-state solution, reconstruction of Syria, maritime security in the Red Sea, and mediation between the conflicting sides in Sudan. We have a strong common ground on upholding principles of respect for sovereignty and good neighborliness, along with promoting dialogue and diplomacy, to achieve peace and security in the Middle East.

Both our nations recognize that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to lasting peace in Palestine and, together, they engage with the Islamic world to counter aggression against Muslim nations, particularly in the Middle East.

Recent diplomatic engagements highlight this alignment. The Arab League-Organization of Islamic Cooperation joint summit in Doha last month provided an important platform for dialogue. During the summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues.

Turkiye has actively participated in the High-Level International Conference on the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-organized by �������� and France on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly session, as well as the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. Bilateral meetings, including discussions between Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, have further reinforced coordination at international forums such as the Munich Security Conference.

Bilateral cooperation is expanding beyond diplomatic dialogue. Turkish-Saudi economic relations are growing steadily, with trade reaching $8 billion last year, a historic high. The two countries aim to elevate this to $10 billion and eventually to $15 billion, reflecting the untapped potential across diverse sectors.

People-to-people ties are also strengthening. In addition to the thousands of pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah, tourism flows between our nations are rising. Last year, 869,000 Saudi tourists visited Turkiye and this number is expected to rise to close to 1 million this year.

Turkiye and �������� are key regional actors that share a commitment to peace, stability and international law.

Prof. Dr. Emrullah Isler

Meanwhile, cooperation in the military and defense sectors continues to expand, serving as a crucial driver of our bilateral relations amid evolving regional security challenges. It is particularly gratifying that, in recent years, the Turkish and Saudi armed forces have been regularly assigning personnel to joint training and exercises. Moreover, recognizing the importance of building strong armies through effective training, we are also conducting — and planning to further expand — mutual programs in language and theoretical instruction.

As reaffirmed by both countries during various high-level meetings, particularly at defense industry fairs, we are confident that our military cooperation will continue to grow in terms of both scope and depth. Turkiye’s successful defense industry companies offer numerous potential projects that can further advance our partnership with our Saudi brothers. We firmly believe that our cooperation will strengthen even further in the coming period and that we will jointly achieve our shared objectives.

Turkiye regards �������� not only as a key regional partner but as a brotherly Muslim nation sharing common values and a mutual commitment to peace and security. Together, our countries can play a transformative role in promoting stability, prosperity and dialogue across the Middle East. As Turkiye embarks on its second century, its partnership with �������� offers a foundation for shaping a secure and prosperous regional order.

• Prof. Dr. Emrullah Isler is Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye to the Kingdom of ��������.