Saudi Shoura Council members visit Turkish parliament
During the meeting, held in Ankara, the two sides reviewed ways to further boost their relations and discussed other topics of common interest.
The Saudi delegation also met with Numan Kurtulmus, president of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
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More than 30 percent of Armenia's trade passes through Iran. Following Israel's strikes on Iran, Armenia's economy minister stated that Armenian goods were stuck at the Iranian border and warned that the country might face shortages of certain items. Pashinyan — who is seen as a pragmatic leader — has placed great importance on the normalization process with Turkiye. Dr. Sinem Cengiz Armenia has also been facing difficulties in the transit of its goods via Georgia. The situation with Tbilisi, combined with the Israel-Iran tensions, further raises the strategic importance and urgency of opening the border with Turkiye after decades of closure. Gaining access to new markets via Turkiye, which serves as an energy hub connecting Europe and Central Asia, could drastically reduce Armenia's dependence on both Iran and Russia. A senior diplomat from Armenia's Foreign Ministry recently shared Yerevan's approach with me, saying: 'Opening the border with Turkiye, a member of the EU Customs Union, is significant for Armenia's regional connectivity and further engagement with Western institutions.' The Turkish side sees opening the border as an opportunity to increase economic integration with Armenia, while also viewing the country as a key route to the so-called Middle Corridor, which would directly connect Turkiye to Central Asia. Armenia and Turkiye also share a common concern over the potential influx of people from Iran due to the tensions with Israel. In January, for the first time since its independence in 1991, Armenia assumed full control of the Agarak border checkpoint along its border with Iran. Armenian border guards replaced Russia's Border Service, which had managed the checkpoint for more than three decades. 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Unlike previous moves toward normalization, this time, in addition to goodwill, the escalating tensions in the region serve as a significant driving force. Like Turkiye, Armenia has to navigate the volatile environment caused by the Israel-Iran tensions with a balanced policy — a task that may become difficult if regional tensions flare again. However, their shared concerns and mutual interest in the stability of the South Caucasus could help mitigate the repercussions and pave the way toward normalization.
