UPDATE - Turkish President Erdogan meets Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Muscat

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM TURKISH COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE, CHANGES DECK; EDIT THROUGHOUT

By Mumin Altas, Fatma Zehra Solmaz, and Busra Nur Cakmak

MUSCAT, Oman / ISTANBUL / Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on Thursday with the sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq.

The meeting took place at Al Alam Palace in Muscat, Oman’s capital, and was held behind closed doors, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

Following their one-on-one talks, Erdogan and Haitham will co-chair a meeting between their delegations and attend a signing ceremony for several bilateral agreements between the two countries.

The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional and global issues during the meeting, said a statement by Turkish Communications Directorate.

“Stating that Türkiye and Oman share deep-rooted historical and fraternal ties, President Erdogan noted that this visit further reinforced the solidarity between the two countries,” said the statement.

“President Erdogan stressed that cooperation with Oman will be enhanced in many fields, ranging from industry and economy to defense and communications,” it added.

“Emphasizing that Türkiye and Oman share similar positions on many issues, particularly the Palestinian cause, President Erdogan expressed our appreciation for Oman’s efforts in its region based on mediation and dialogue, and also added that joint efforts will be made for a two-state solution in Gaza,” said the statement.

A total of 16 new documents were adopted between the two countries following the meeting, said the directorate.

Oman is the final stop on Erdogan’s three-nation Gulf tour this week, following Kuwait and Qatar.