DUBAI (Reuters) – Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Monday, state media said, on the first such visit since 2013 as the two countries mend ties strained by years of animosity in a pivot toward economic partnership.
Erdogan was greeted by the Gulf state’s de facto ruler Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who visited Ankara last November when investment accords worth billions of dollars were signed.
“During this visit, we aim to develop the momentum we have captured with the United Arab Emirates and to take the necessary steps for ties to go back to the level they deserve,” Erdogan told reporters at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport before he departed.
“The dialogue and cooperation of Turkey and the United Arab Emirates carries great importance for the peace and stability of our entire region,” he added.
The UAE and Turkey have competed for regional influence since Arab uprisings erupted a decade ago, a rivalry which saw them backing different sides in Libya’s civil war and extended to disputes from the eastern Mediterranean to the Gulf.
The warming diplomatic relations come as Turkey is facing economic turmoil and as the UAE pursues a more conciliatory foreign policy driven by economic priorities.
Last month the two countries agreed on a nearly $5 billion swap deal in local currencies.
Erdogan said that during his visit Turkey and the UAE would seek to boost bilateral trade and seek opportunities in “the complementary structures of the two countries’ economies”.
Turkish sources said the two nations are expected to officially begin negotiations for a trade agreement and sign memorandums of understanding, including on climate action, industry and advanced technology, health and agriculture.
They are also expected to sign a letter of intent for starting defence industry cooperation meetings, as well as a memorandum of understanding on investment cooperation, the sources said.
Turkey, at odds with several regional powers as well as its Western allies over various issues, launched a regional charm offensive last year but efforts with Egypt and Saudi Arabia have so far yielded little public improvement.
(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Orhan Coskun in Ankara; Writing by Yousef Saba in Dubai; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
