Turkey is hoping to open a new chapter with countries in the Gulf and Middle East, particularly Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to visit Turkey next month, Erdogan told the broadcaster NTV late Wednesday.
"A new era may begin in Israel-Turkey relations with this visit," Erdogan said, adding that Turkey was ready to cooperate with Tel Aviv in different areas, including natural gas trade.
Ties between Turkey and Israel have been tense under Erdogan, a staunch critic of Israel's policy towards the Palestinians.
The recent rapprochement comes as energy-poor Turkey competes with Greece and Cyprus to secure an East Mediterranean corridor for delivering Israeli natural gas to Europe.
The Israeli side was not immediately available to comment on Erdogan's remarks.
Israel has also recently shown signs of a thaw in relations with other predominantly Muslim countries in the region.
Herzog heads to the UAE on Sunday in the first-ever visit by an Israeli head of state to the Gulf country.
Erdogan is headed to the UAE on February 14, which he said will help improve "dialogue and consensus" in the region.
Turkey-UAE ties frayed in 2017 when Turkey sided with Qatar as regional players, led by Saudi Arabia, severed ties with Doha.
There is "positive momemtum" to improve ties with the "brotherly" Gulf nations, Erdogan said.
Turkey is keen to improve trade and boost cash flows amid the lira currency crisis.
Earlier this month, Turkey signed a currency swap deal with the UAE worth 4.74 billion dollars.
Source: DPA
