Turkey and Qatar sign mutual defense pact, terms undisclosed
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed a mutual defense agreement in Istanbul. The text and the military obligations it places on the two countries have not been made public.
RastinewsThe 12th meeting of the Turkey-Qatar High Strategic Committee took place on Friday, November 13, at the Dolmabahçe Working Office in Istanbul. The two leaders met one-on-one before their delegations joined them. Five documents were signed by the end of the meeting.
Only the "Mutual Defense Agreement" bears the signatures of both leaders. Ministers signed the other four documents.
Terms kept under wraps
Turkey's presidency did not release details of the agreement. It remains unclear under what circumstances the pact would take effect or what military obligations it imposes on either country.
A joint statement issued after the meeting outlined the agreement's purpose: the two countries aim to strengthen joint defense and to stand together against any armed attack on either party from an outside force.
Erdoğan said the agreement would add a new dimension to relations between the two countries. He added that defense-industry cooperation would also expand.
Deal on peace and conflict resolution
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani signed the cooperation agreement on peace, reconciliation and conflict resolution. The same two officials also signed the committee's joint statement.
Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Qatari Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani signed a memorandum on consumer protection and market oversight. Turkish National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin and Qatari Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi signed the agreement on education.
MİT (Turkey's National Intelligence Organization) chief İbrahim Kalın also took part in the closed-door delegation talks.
Qatari Emir Tamim posted on X after the meeting, saying the strategic partnership between the two countries continues to grow across many fields.
According to the joint statement published by Qatar-based newspaper The Peninsula, the committee's 13th meeting will be held in Qatar in 2027.
Turkish troops have been in Qatar since 2014
Military cooperation between the two countries dates back to a 2014 agreement, which paved the way for Turkish troops to be stationed in Qatar. The High Strategic Committee was also established that year.
This marks the second time this year that Ankara has taken on a defense commitment in the Gulf. In August, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a joint defense agreement in Mecca under which an attack on any one of them would be treated as an attack on all three.