President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to the statement made by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, the latest developments in the region and attacks against Saudi Arabia were discussed in the phone call. President Erdoğan stated that, as Türkiye, we strongly condemn the Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabian territory, and expressed his sadness and condolences for those who lost their lives. Erdogan stated that Turkey will stand by Saudi Arabia in the coming period and that he believes that this challenge will be overcome.
Mecca Agreement
In his statement following the Cabinet meeting on Monday, Erdoğan stated that they condemned the attacks targeting Riyadh King Khalid International Airport by the Houthis in the strongest terms. Regarding the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, he said, "The activities within the scope of the joint defense agreement, as in NATO, will be carried out on the basis of our national legislation. We are continuing our efforts to forward the agreement to our Gazi Assembly in the coming days in order to complete the internal approval procedures. Turkey's stance, sensitivities and the principles it defends are clear. We do not take an ethnic and sectarian view to the events." "We never look through the lens. We want peace and stability to prevail throughout our region. From now on, we will continue to defend peace and strive for peace on the basis of regional ownership."
Letter of credence from 5 ambassadors
The ambassadors of India, Mali, the Netherlands, El Salvador and Nigeria presented their letters of credence to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. At the ceremony held at the Presidential Complex, Indian Ambassador Rudra Gaurav Shresth, Mali Ambassador Oumarou Maiga, Dutch Ambassador Alle Dorhout, El Salvador Ambassador Eduardo Alfonso G. Grande and Nigerian Ambassador Saidu Usman Nasamu Dakingari presented letters of credence to President Erdoğan, respectively. The ambassadors introduced the embassy members and their family members and took a souvenir photo with Erdoğan. Erdoğan then met with the ambassadors separately.
'Namaste' from the Ambassador
After presenting his letter of credence, Indian Ambassador Shresth greeted Erdogan with "Namaste", the most common greeting in his country. The Namaste greeting is done by folding the hands at chest or chin level and leaning forward slightly. This expression of Sanskrit origin means "I bow to you with respect."
Worked with the Prime Minister of India
Rudra Gaurav Shresth, who took office as India's Ambassador to Ankara in August, is a career diplomat and a member of the Indian Foreign Service since 1999. Before starting his duty in Turkey, he served in Indian diplomatic missions in Paris, Mauritius, Afghanistan, Singapore, Mozambique, Bhutan and Iran. He also worked as Deputy Secretary of the Personnel Department, Director of the Office of the Secretary of State, and Director of Policy Planning and Research at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. Prior to his assignments in Türkiye and Iran, Shresth served as Joint Secretary (Foreign Policy and Security) in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) of India between 2020 and 2023.
