A handout picture released by the Qatar News Agency on October 25, 2017 shows Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (R) receiving Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu in Doha.
PHOTO: AFP
Row over Hajj pilgrimage helps fuel Qatar rift
The announcement followed what Moscow said was the first trip ever undertaken by a Russian defence minister to the Gulf state. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt are boycotting Qatar, accusing it of backing extremism and fostering ties with their Shiite rival Iran - charges that Doha denies.
The defence agreement was announced after Moscow's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu met Qatar's emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah in Doha on Wednesday. "The two ministers signed (a) military technical cooperation agreement during the meeting," a statement from Qatar's defence ministry said.
What the Gulf crisis means for Pakistan
It added that a 'memorandum of understanding' was also signed relating to air defence and military supplies. No further details were given. In the almost 150-days of the Gulf crisis, Qatar has announced a $12 billion deal to buy F-15 jets from the US, a deal with Italy for seven navy vessels and an agreement to buy 24 Typhoon fighter jets from Britain.
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