Turkey and Qatar ink mutual defense pact

Detailed summary

ISTANBUL: Turkey and Qatar announced on Friday that they signed a mutual defense agreement, which they said was aimed at adopting a “unified position” in ...

ISTANBUL: Turkey and Qatar announced on Friday that they signed a mutual defense agreement, which they said was aimed at adopting a “unified position” in the face of an external attack. The announcement came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Istanbul. Erdogan had said the agreement would further strengthen ties between the regional allies. Qatar’s ruler travelled to Istanbul after attending the United Nations COP31 climate summit in southern Turkey.

“The two parties hailed the signing of the mutual defense agreement between Qatar and Turkey,” according to a joint statement carried by Qatar’s state news agency. The agreement was “aimed at bolstering collective defense and achieving regional security and stability, as well as adopting a unified position in the face of any external armed attack targeting either or both parties”, the statement said.

“The two parties agreed to hold consultations on threats to their security... and to strengthen cooperation through joint military exercises, collaboration in the field of defense industries, and the exchange of personnel training.” Erdogan’s office had earlier announced the agreement. “A mutual defense agreement signed by Turkey and Qatar today will add a new dimension to the brotherly ties between the two countries,”. — AFP

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