Turkey, UAE foreign ministers discuss bilateral relations as ties improve

Turkey and the United Arab Emirates discussed bilateral relations via a phone call between top officials on Wednesday, the Turkish Anadolu news agency reported.

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 thawing of relations between the once hostile states following Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's trip to the UAE in February. 

During Erdogan’s visit, the two countries signed thirteen agreements in defence, trade, technology, agriculture and other sectors.  

“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,” said the Turkish president. 

"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 following month, Cavusoglu visited the UAE to address the 16th UAE Ambassadors and Representatives of Diplomatic Missions Forum as a guest of honour.  

Analysts say that the improving of Turkey-UAE relations are due to Ankara’s desire to normalise ties with surrounding states and encourage investment and Abu Dhabi’s plans to diversify away from oil and expand alliances.

A change in US policy in the region - from “democracy promotion to stability”- and the invasion of Ukraine have also added to incentives for stronger regional ties, according to the Atlantic Council.

In the past decade, Turkey and the UAE have competed for regional influence and taken diverging positions on Egypt, Libya and Qatar.