New Turkey-Qatar pact pledges joint stance against external attacks

Turkey and Qatar have signed a defence agreement pledging a unified response to any external armed attack on either country. The pact is intended to strengthen collective defence and regional security, while signalling both governments’ commitment to protecting their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The agreement provides for consultations on security threats, regional and global security issues, and defence policy. It also envisages joint military exercises, defence industry projects and personnel training exchanges; separately, the two countries said they were ready to develop energy cooperation, particularly in liquefied natural gas trade.