Turkey and Qatar sign mutual defence agreement

Turkey and Qatar have signed a mutual defence agreement in Istanbul, strengthening military ties between the two countries. The pact commits each to come to the other’s defence and marks a new step in their cooperation.

It was one of five agreements signed as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The countries have had several defence agreements since 2017, including one allowing Turkish troops to be stationed in Doha. Turkey also signed the Mecca Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in August; Turkey’s parliament approved that pact last week, advancing the legal process for possible troop deployments to Saudi Arabia.