Trump's anti-ally tantrum triggers enemy alliance, Erdogan & MBS bolster defenses amid Iran threats

As tensions surge over a possible U.S.–Iran confrontation, Turkey and Saudi Arabia held a secretive high-level summit in Riyadh to coordinate responses to overlapping Middle East crises. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on February 3, marking a major shift as the former rivals deepen strategic cooperation on security, energy, and trade. Talks focused on oil and petrochemicals, renewable energy investments, and a potential free trade agreement between Turkey and the GCC. The meeting comes as President Donald Trump openly questioned Gulf allies’ reliability and signaled they may be excluded from U.S. strike planning on Iran. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE have reportedly opposed direct involvement in any military attack, while Turkey has warned against escalation and drafted contingency plans to prevent refugee spillover if Iran destabilizes.