Turkish and Emirati foreign ministers discussed bilateral ties in a phone call on Wednesday, marking another step in thawing ties between the once rival states.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu addressed the UAE Ambassadors Conference in Abu Dhabi in March [source: Getty]
Turkey and the United Arab Emirates discussed bilateral relations via a phone call between senior officials on Wednesday, Turkey Anadolu reports the news agency.
Ankara’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke with Abu Dhabi’s Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan about the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as well as an upcoming visit between the two countries, according to Anadolu.
The call marks a continued thaw in relations between the once hostile states following Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s trip to the United Arab Emirates in February.
During Erdogan’s visit, the two countries signed thirteen agreements in defense, trade, technology, agriculture and other sectors.
“We aim to build on the momentum we have captured with the UAE and take the necessary steps to return relations to the level they deserve,” the Turkish president said.
“Dialogue and cooperation between Turkey and the UAE are of great importance for the peace and stability of our entire region,” he added.
The following month, Cavusoglu traveled to the United Arab Emirates to address the 16th Forum of Ambassadors and Representatives of Diplomatic Missions of the United Arab Emirates as a guest of honor.
Analysts say the improvement in Turkey-UAE relations is due to Ankara’s desire to normalize relations with neighboring states and encourage investment and Abu Dhabi’s plans to diversify away from the oil and expand alliances.
A shift in US policy in the region – from “promoting democracy to stability” – and the invasion of Ukraine have also heightened incentives to strengthen regional ties, according to the Atlantic Council.
Over the past decade, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates have competed for regional influence and have taken divergent positions on Egypt, Libya and Qatar.