Saudi Minister Describes Türkiye Ties as Strategic, Highlights Industry and Mining Cooperation

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef on Thursday described the Kingdom's relationship with Türkiye as strategic, signalling an acceleration of bilateral cooperation in industry, mining and logistics infrastructure that could reshape trade flows across the wider region. Speaking on the sidelines of high-level economic talks reported by Anadolu Agency, Alkhorayef said the two countries are moving to deepen joint investment in mineral exploration, downstream processing and manufacturing, framing the partnership as a pillar of Riyadh's Vision 2030 industrial diversification drive.

The minister highlighted a long-discussed rail corridor linking Saudi Arabia and Türkiye as a centrepiece of the cooperation agenda. If realised, the project would slash transit times for goods moving between the Gulf and the eastern Mediterranean, opening a land bridge that bypasses the maritime chokepoints currently strained by attacks in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb. Shipping disruptions in those waterways have forced carriers onto longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope, raising freight costs and squeezing supply chains across Europe and the Gulf.

Mining cooperation is expected to feature heavily in the next phase of bilateral engagement. Saudi Arabia, which has identified more than $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral wealth, is courting Turkish engineering firms and equipment suppliers as it builds out the Wa'ad Al-Shamal phosphate hub and other downstream complexes. Turkish contractors, already active across Saudi mega-projects including NEOM and the Red Sea Project, are positioned to expand into mining services, smelting and rail construction.

Trade between the two economies has rebounded sharply since Riyadh and Ankara restored full diplomatic ties in 2022, ending a years-long chill that had followed the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Bilateral trade exceeded $7 billion last year, with Turkish officials targeting a near-term goal of $10 billion. Saudi sovereign wealth has also flowed into Turkish defence and technology firms, including a stake in drone-maker Baykar.

For Gulf capitals including Doha, the Saudi-Turkish realignment carries significant strategic weight. Qatar maintains close partnerships with both Riyadh and Ankara and has positioned itself as a logistics and energy hub linking the two. A functioning Gulf-to-Anatolia rail line would complement Qatari port and LNG export infrastructure and reinforce the broader push by GCC states to integrate transport networks under projects such as the GCC Railway. Analysts say a Saudi-Turkish industrial axis, anchored by mining, manufacturing and rail, could counterbalance the volatility of seaborne trade and give the region greater leverage in global supply chain negotiations as Western and Asian economies seek alternative routes east of Suez.