Turkey and Qatar sign mutual defence agreement in Istanbul

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed a mutual defence agreement in Istanbul on 13 November. The accord is designed to foster a unified position should either nation face an external armed attack, marking a significant deepening of the strategic partnership between the two regional allies.

The agreement was formalised following a meeting between the two leaders in Istanbul. The Qatari Emir travelled to the city after attending the United Nations COP31 climate summit, which took place in southern Turkey. According to a joint statement released by Qatar’s state news agency, the pact is intended to bolster collective defence and ensure regional stability.

Under the terms of the agreement, both nations have committed to regular consultations regarding potential security threats. The framework also outlines specific areas of cooperation, including the conduct of joint military exercises, collaboration within the defence industry, and the exchange of personnel for training purposes. President Erdogan described the agreement as a development that adds a new dimension to the brotherly ties between Turkey and Qatar.

This bilateral deal follows a period of increased diplomatic activity regarding regional security arrangements involving Turkey. In August, Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia signed a regional defence pact, which was ratified by the Turkish Parliament last week. That agreement obliges the three nations to provide mutual aid if any of the signatories come under attack. Turkey, which maintains the second-largest military within the NATO alliance, has stated that the pact remains open to other states, including Egypt.

Furthermore, in October, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation in Doha. Known as 'Badr', this agreement aims to enhance military and strategic cooperation among the participating countries.

During their meeting in Istanbul, President Erdogan and the Qatari Emir also addressed the ongoing Iran war. The leaders expressed a commitment to working together to prevent a renewed outbreak of conflict in the Gulf region and to promote dialogue and peace. The discussions extended to other pressing international issues, including the humanitarian situation in Gaza following Israel's attacks, efforts toward normalisation in Syria, and the latest developments in Libya.