Gulf reconciliation and ties with France discussed by Erdogan and Hariri in surprise meeting

In addressing the prospects of Turkish-French rapprochement, Hariri can count on his close ties to both Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron. Arab sources expected the surprise visit of the Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to Istanbul, where he held a long meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to have raised the issues of Gulf reconciliation and Turkish-French relations on top of the crisis faced by Lebanon where no government is yet in place despite Hariri’s efforts. Sources believe Hariri sought to explore the Turkish president’s reactions regarding recent developments within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in light of…