Saudi Arabia in February 2026: the most important developments in politics
In February 2026 the main political event in Saudi Arabia was the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who arrived on February 3 and 4. He and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said they were determined to elevate bilateral relations, and both countries urged upholding the Gaza ceasefire and ending the Israeli occupation. Turkey and Saudi Arabia explored joint investment in the KAAN fighter jet programme, and Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia were reported to be considering a new regional alliance. On February 23 Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the crown prince met in Jeddah to discuss a Gaza ceasefire and lower regional tensions.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met the crown prince in Riyadh on February 4 and 5 during a Gulf tour. Reports described the visit as a shift toward political realism. Merz was seeking closer defence and arms cooperation with Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Putin had trusting relations with the Saudi leadership, and Putin and the crown prince spoke by phone on February 3.
Iran dominated the end of the month. Saudi Arabia rejected claims made by Iran early in February, and on February 28 it condemned what it called Iranian aggression against countries in the region, including the UAE and Qatar. Riyadh said it would support Arab states targeted by Iran in any measures they take, and the crown prince phoned the leaders of the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. A report claimed he had secretly lobbied President Donald Trump to attack Iran. Saudi Arabia also called on Iraq to respect Kuwait's sovereignty and, with other nations, condemned Israeli decisions extending control in the West Bank. On February 19 Saudi Arabia and others pledged $7 billion for Gaza relief alongside a $10 billion US commitment.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.