Following a call by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis last Tuesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan held a call with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis yesterday, Thursday, to address the crisis over the decision by Greek officials to withdraw Greek forces from Saudi Arabia following the signing of a security agreement between Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Saudi Arabia has found itself caught between two rival states that provide it with protection in return for money: Turkey and Greece. Greek officials have announced that they want to withdraw their forces stationed in Yanbu after Saudi Arabia signed a protection agreement with Turkey, Greece’s historic enemy.

International relations experts say that Saudi Arabia does not trust Turkey’s commitment to the Mecca Agreement, and therefore does not want to lose Greek protection.