Erdogan pledges military support for Qatar on Doha visit

Erdogan also signalled the "readiness" of Turkey's private sector to help Qatar with 2022 football World Cup


Afp November 15, 2017
A handout photo provided by the Turkish Prime Minister Press Office on shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan being received by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in the capital Doha. PHOTO: AFP

DOHA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged his country's continued military support for Qatar during a visit to Doha on Wednesday, according to state media, amid an ongoing Gulf political crisis.

Erdogan also signalled the "readiness" of Turkey's private sector to help Qatar with its multi-billion projects for the 2022 football World Cup, according to the Qatar News Agency (QNA).

He held talks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during the visit, reported QNA.

Erdogan in Qatar for talks on Gulf crisis

It also said the two countries signed a number of financial, tourism and research agreements.

"Erdogan stressed the continued support of Turkey to the State of Qatar in various fields, especially in the industrial and military," read the QNA statement.

Turkey has a military base in Qatar, which Ankara says has facilities for around 3,000 troops.

Erdogan's backing came during his second official visit to Qatar, a close ally, since a bitter regional crisis began five months ago, threatening to destabilise the Gulf.

The increasingly entrenched dispute erupted on June 5 when Qatar was politically and economically boycotted by a quartet of neighbouring countries over its alleged support for terrorist groups and relations with Iran.

Erdogan in the Gulf seeking to ease Qatar crisis

Qatar, the world's largest exporter of liquified natural gas, denies the charges and says the dispute is an attack on its sovereignty.

Erdogan was in Qatar 24 hours after visiting Kuwait, which has acted as a mediator during the Gulf dispute.

Relations between Turkey and Qatar are exceptionally friendly.
Qatar's Sheikh Tamim was the first foreign leader to phone Erdogan during the unsuccessful Turkish coup in July 2016, according to Turkish state media.

Trade between the two countries at the end of 2015 stood at $1.26 billion.

Erdogan plans Gulf visit to discuss Qatar dispute

This is figure is likely to grow, partly because of the Gulf crisis, as Qatar has used Turkey to replace traditional regional food suppliers because of the boycott.

Recent contracts won by Turkish companies in Qatar, include one to build a 10-lane highway.

In 2016, Qatari broadcaster beIN Media announced it had purchased Turkey's pay TV company Digiturk.

COMMENTS (2)

Jamil Chaudri | 6 years ago | Reply It is high time Pakistan showed its colours and stood alongside Turkey and Iran as a pillar of support for Qatar. The only real friends of Pakistan are Iran and Turkey. , should be the inspiration for the three countries. Neither America nor Europe are going to help you to come out of underdeveloped state. Mutual help will.
Kolsat | 6 years ago | Reply President Erdogan is trying to position Turkey as a leader of the Muslim world as against Saudi Arabia.
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