Summary
According to a Turkish diplomatic source, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are set to sign an agreement that would remove visa requirements for citizens of both countries during meetings between their foreign ministers in Ankara on Wednesday. The understanding is reported to cover both ordinary and diplomatic passport holders. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, will chair a session of the Turkey-Saudi Coordination Council at which the accord is expected to be finalised.
Diplomatic context
Relations between Ankara and Riyadh were strained after the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, an event after which Turkey accused senior Saudi officials of orchestrating the killing. The two countries have taken steps since 2020 aimed at repairing ties, and the planned visa arrangement is the latest development in that gradual process.
Agenda and statements
The diplomatic source indicated that, beyond the visa accord for ordinary and diplomatic passport holders, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will use the meeting to reiterate Turkey's advocacy for regional ownership in handling Middle East issues. The report also said Fidan would stress Ankara's intention to continue contributing constructively to efforts to end the war in Iran.
Analysis and implications
The announcement is presented as part of an official-level dialogue between the two countries and reflects a continuation of the post-2020 trajectory toward normalization. Details provided are limited to the scope of passport categories covered and the planned timing tied to the foreign ministers' meeting in Ankara. The available information does not include implementation timelines or additional operational details for the visa measures.
What remains unclear
The public information released through the diplomatic source does not supply specifics on how or when the visa waiver would take effect, whether it will include additional travel or administrative arrangements, or how long any transitional arrangements might last. It also leaves open the extent of political and procedural follow-through required to implement the agreement across both governments.
Key takeaways
- The planned agreement is expected to apply to holders of ordinary and diplomatic passports; further implementation details were not provided.
- The meeting will be chaired by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Prince Faisal bin Farhan as part of the Turkey-Saudi Coordination Council session in Ankara.
- The development follows steps since 2020 to mend relations that were damaged after the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi.