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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has postponed a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates, informing UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the delay in a phone call on Sunday, according to a statement from Türkiye's Directorate of Communications.
Erdogan told Al Nahyan that he had postponed his trip to the Emirates and would reschedule the visit at a mutually convenient date, the statement said. No reason was given for the postponement.
The announcement came shortly after Communications Director Burhanettin Duran had confirmed the president's travel plans in a social media post earlier the same day. According to Duran, Erdogan was scheduled to visit the UAE on February 16 and Ethiopia on February 17 as part of a two-day diplomatic tour.
Talks with Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi were expected to focus on deepening bilateral cooperation between Türkiye and the UAE, as well as an assessment of regional and global developments, Duran said.
The Ethiopian portion of the trip was arranged at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, with Erdogan set to hold talks in Addis Ababa. Duran noted that a number of agreements and documents that had completed the negotiation phase were due to be signed during both stops.
It was not immediately clear whether the Ethiopia visit would also be affected by the postponement. The Directorate of Communications did not specify whether the delay applied to the full itinerary or only the UAE leg.
Relations between Ankara and Abu Dhabi have undergone a significant transformation in recent years after a period of diplomatic tension that peaked in the late 2010s over regional rivalries. Since 2021, the two countries have pursued a rapid rapprochement, signing a series of trade, investment and defense agreements aimed at strengthening economic ties and political coordination.
According to Turkish media, Al Nahyan has been experiencing a health problem resulting in Erdogan's postponement, though no details have been disclosed about the nature or severity of his condition. Erdogan called the Emirati leader by phone to express his concern and wish him a swift recovery, and said he was postponing the UAE visit as a result, with plans to reschedule at a later date.
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