Turkish FM meets with Bahraini counterpart in Manama amid regional rapprochement

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met his Bahraini counterpart on Sunday during his first visit to Manama in five years, marking an easing of tensions between Turkey and Gulf powers.

Cavusoglu held talks with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, during which they pledged to increase economic ties and boost cooperation in defence and health industries.

The two are expected to hold a joint press conference on Monday, according to Turkish news agency Anadolu.

The meeting marked an improvement in Turkey-Gulf ties amid Ankara’s bid for rapprochement with regional powers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to visit the UAE mid-February, and Saudi Arabia in the same month.

Turkey and Gulf powers, including Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, have been at loggerheads since the 2011 uprisings across the Arab world when Saudi Arabia accused Ankara of supporting Islamist political groups.

Tensions escalated in 2018 over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate.