Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, stopping at the headquarters of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to meet its secretary general, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the first Turkish national to hold that post. The stop was added to an itinerary that already included the Arab League summit and a prior visit to Sudan.
Erdogan framed Türkiye's foreign policy at an OIC press conference as a dual identity: a country pursuing EU membership while also leading a major Islamic multilateral body. He pushed back firmly against suggestions his government was losing momentum on European reforms, though he cited only a single recent regulatory change on minority-language broadcasting when pressed for specifics.
Analysts note that Türkiye has pursued closer ties with Arab and neighboring countries before, but the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is particularly eager to highlight those relationships ahead of upcoming elections, despite falling short on some domestic reform pledges.
Erdogan also promoted Gulf investment in Türkiye, defending projects such as Dubai Towers against media criticism, which he characterized as bias against Islamic capital rather than legitimate concerns about environmental impact or feasibility. He announced plans to establish a new investment agency reporting directly to him, raising questions about oversight and transparency.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in March 2006, in its own words.