Muslim nations have never needed unity so urgently as at this time. The current proactive drive by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman is designed to forge that unity. And unity means little without leadership. This the Kingdom is also offering at political, economic and military levels.

The king’s state visit to Turkey is a clear demonstration of this. Outside meddling in the affairs of the Arab world has been a disaster. It has left two countries — Iraq and Syria — in ruins. It has spawned the horror of terrorism. And whatever the spectacular crimes Daesh and Al-Qaeda have committed around the world, the greatest number of their victims are here in the Middle East.

Washington is disengaging from a catastrophe which it did so much to create. Its regional policy is floundering. It sees no moral responsibility to clear up the mess it has made. It is turning a blind eye to the turmoil it has brought about. It has consistently failed to understand the breadth and depth of the issues which it was once so confident it could solve. America’s only Middle East constant is its slavish support for Israel. This continues despite the ceaseless encroachment of illegal settlements and the imprisonment of Palestinians in their own land.

On top of this, Moscow has meddled dangerously in Syria to sustain the Assad government. And then there is the rising menace of Iran. No longer restricted by international sanctions, Iranian interference lies at the heart of virtually every conflict and outbreak of unrest throughout the region.

King Salman’s crucial insight is that the Arab world must find its own solutions to its many challenges. And this effort must also embrace the wider Muslim Ummah.

In the light of this, it is already clear that the king’s two days of talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have consolidated many key initiatives. They have also laid the foundations for further bilateral cooperation. Turkey is poised to be an important participant in the 34-nation Islamic military alliance formed by the Kingdom to counter the threat of terrorism. This includes state terrorism, not least that of Bashar Assad in Syria. For the last two months, Saudi warplanes have been flying out of Turkey’s Incirlik air base in operations against Daesh. The Kingdom and Turkey are one in agreeing that Assad is the principle part of the Syrian tragedy. As such, he has no role whatsoever to play in the country’s future. The support of both Riyadh and Ankara for the Syrian rebels will not waver.

Nor has the Kingdom forgotten how Turkey stood beside it this January after Iran’s assault on Saudi missions, following the execution of a convicted terrorist in Eastern Province. And Ankara also shares Saudi concerns over Iranian interference in Yemen and Iraq. This is creating unrest which, unless contained, could spill over in the Kingdom and Turkey.

Turkey has much to gain by forging closer ties with Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom represents a rich and sophisticated market for Turkish goods and services. Of recent years, trade has stagnated. But the unfilled opportunities identified a decade ago are now even more enticing for Turkish business. They range from consumer goods to construction to defense procurement. By the same token, Turkey needs solid, long-term investment. This is exactly what the Kingdom can provide.

Turkey also has much to gain politically. Its rift with Egypt has been deeply regrettable. During his pivotal recent Egyptian visit, King Salman prepared the ground for a much-needed rapprochement between Cairo and Ankara.

There is something common to all the unfortunate differences that divide the Muslim Ummah. This is that the divisive arguments themselves are hugely outweighed by the policies and principles that unite the Islamic world.

It is in recognition of this that King Salman has taken the natural lead in promoting greater unity. Saudi Arabia has the strongest economy in the Arab world with the largest and most advanced military capacity. It is its duty to assist and sustain its neighbors in the face of the great dangers they face. The Kingdom has confronted and defeated terrorism within its own borders.

The message from the King is clear that these battles must and should be fought by the people of the Middle East. Washington’s lack of vision and commitment has removed it from the front line. Its interference over the last 15 years has unleashed chaos. Under King Salman’s inspired leadership, the Arab world is taking back the ownership of its own challenges.