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The Saudi Ministry of Defense reported that Prince Khalid bin Salman first spoke by phone with Yaşar Güler. The ministers reviewed ways to enhance military and defense cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Turkey as brotherly countries. They examined joint efforts to promote peace and security in the region amid current developments and discussed several regional and international issues of mutual interest. The call reflects ongoing high-level engagement between the two defense establishments.
According to the same statement from the Saudi Ministry of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman held a separate conversation with Angelina Motshekga on the same day. The two sides assessed opportunities to strengthen military and defense ties between Saudi Arabia and South Africa as friendly nations. They explored collaborative approaches to tackle current regional challenges in ways that preserve international peace and security. The discussion forms part of broader Saudi outreach on defense matters across continents.
Saudi-Turkish defense relations have expanded since the early 2020s with multiple agreements on joint exercises and technology sharing, a trend documented in assessments by the Gulf Research Center. The latest call occurs against a backdrop of shared interest in securing the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea shipping lanes that carry much of the world’s oil exports. Data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies indicate that such dialogues have contributed to coordinated positions on Middle East stability in recent years.
Defense cooperation between Saudi Arabia and South Africa has included training programs and equipment discussions, according to reports from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The Saudi Ministry of Defense has prioritized partnerships with African states to address maritime threats in the Red Sea, where incidents have disrupted global trade routes over the past two years. These engagements align with the Kingdom’s strategy to diversify alliances beyond traditional partners.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense has conducted dozens of similar ministerial calls in the past 12 months as part of efforts to build a network of security relationships. Prince Khalid bin Salman has emphasized the importance of collective action on regional issues during many of these exchanges. Further coordination between the involved parties is expected to follow the July 26 conversations.
Official statements from the Saudi Ministry of Defense typically outline follow-up mechanisms after such high-level talks without disclosing operational specifics. The ministry’s figures show that defense diplomacy has increased bilateral agreements by nearly 30 percent since 2022. Additional information on implementation of the latest discussions will likely appear in subsequent releases from the ministry.
