Saudi Arabia-Turkey Cooperation in the Green Energy Sector

Against the backdrop of the transformation of the international system, the reconfiguration of the global economy, and the global energy transition, the green agenda is becoming a tool for political normalisation and the development of economic relations in the Middle East. The article examines the evolution of Saudi-Turkish cooperation in the field of renewable energy sources (RES) within the context of the overall dynamics of bilateral relations between 2011 and 2026. The aim of the study is to analyse the evolution and prospects of Saudi-Turkish cooperation in the field of RES through the prism of the overall dynamics of bilateral relations, as well as to identify the factors determining the sustainability, investment attractiveness and scalability of this model of cooperation. The methodological framework comprised a comparative analysis of strategic documents, case studies, and the verification of primary sources (official communiqués from relevant ministries, data from sovereign wealth funds, and sectoral statistics). The study found that the transition from political confrontation to systemic cooperation is driven by the complementarity of national strategies: Saudi capital and ACWA Power’s expertise are combined with Turkish manufacturing capacity and state procurement guarantees. The mechanisms for implementing agreements on the construction of 5 GW of renewable energy capacity are examined in detail, including the first 2 GW with a record electricity price of 1.995 euro cents per kW/h and a 50 per cent localisation requirement. It is demonstrated that energy cooperation is not a consequence but a driving force behind political normalization, forming a model of “pragmatic convergence” in which economic expediency and technological complementarity overcome historically entrenched political rivalry. The findings contribute to the development of research literature on energy diplomacy and the theory of regional cooperation.

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