Turkish officials said a short while ago that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan asked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today, “Where is King Salman? I would like to greet him.”

The officials said that Mohammed bin Salman appeared unsettled, as he had not expected such a direct question. He replied, “The doctor has prohibited visits for health reasons, but there is no harm in asking the doctor again shortly to see whether he will allow it.”

Erdoğan is visiting Jeddah to sign an agreement to provide moral support for Saudi Arabia in exchange for economic benefits, making Turkey the latest country, alongside Pakistan, to offer moral support to the Saudi regime, which is said to be in a constant state of concern about its continued survival.