Turkiye, Qatar sign defence agreement

Erdogan says agreement will add new dimension to bilateral ties

ISTANBUL:

Turkiye and Qatar signed a defence agreement on Friday, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said would add a new dimension to ties between the two regional allies, his office said after his meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Istanbul.

Al Thani travelled to Istanbul after attending the COP31 climate summit in southern Turkiye. According to a statement issued by the Turkish presidency, Erdogan said the two countries were working to develop and diversify their energy partnership, while cooperation in the defence industry would continue to expand.

"President Erdogan stated that we would continue working together to prevent the resurgence of war in the Gulf region and establish a basis for dialogue and achieve peace," the presidency said in a statement on X, which did not provide details of the defence agreement.

"A mutual defence agreement signed by Turkey and Qatar today will add a new dimension to the brotherly ties between the two countries," Erdogan said. The two leaders also discussed Israel's attacks on Gaza and the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory, efforts towards normalisation in Syria and Libya.

In August, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a joint defence agreement in Makkah. Turkey's parliament ratified the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement last week, clearing the way for Ankara to provide military support to Saudi Arabia, which has been facing attacks by Yemen's Houthi militants.