Türkiye and Qatar sign mutual defense agreement

President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed a mutual defense agreement in Istanbul. The document was the main outcome of the 12th meeting of the two countries’ High Strategic Committee.

President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at his working office in Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul on Nov. 13. After one-on-one and expanded-format talks, the leaders held the 12th meeting of the High Strategic Committee between Türkiye and Qatar.

Following the meeting, the sides signed five documents. Erdoğan and the emir personally signed the mutual defense agreement between the Republic of Türkiye and the State of Qatar. Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani signed a memorandum of cooperation in peace, reconciliation and conflict resolution, as well as a joint statement on the meeting. The two countries’ ministers also signed an agreement on cooperation in education and a memorandum on consumer rights protection and market oversight.

Erdoğan and Qatar’s emir exchange a handshake at Dolmabahçe Palace

Türkiye’s Presidential Communications Directorate said Erdoğan stated that the mutual defense agreement would give a new dimension to the fraternal ties between the two countries. He said the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force last year, had brought the countries closer to their goal for bilateral trade volume. The Turkish leader also stressed the desire to develop and diversify the energy partnership with Qatar and expand cooperation in the defense industry.

Erdoğan said Ankara and Doha would continue joint efforts to prevent a new escalation of war in the Persian Gulf region and stressed the importance of persuading the parties to resolve their differences diplomatically. The talks also addressed Israel’s strikes on the Gaza Strip and the humanitarian situation in the region, steps toward normalization in Syria and the latest developments in Libya.

The High Strategic Committee was established in 2014 and held 11 meetings alternately in the two countries before the Istanbul meeting. Qatar’s ambassador to Türkiye said the countries are linked by more than 148 agreements and memorandums.

Türkiye and Qatar sign mutual defense agreement