Turkey and Qatar sign joint defense pact, expand cooperation

Turkey and Qatar signed a joint defense agreement during a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Friday, along with four other agreements covering trade, education, and diplomacy as part of efforts to expand cooperation between the two countries.

Erdogan and the Qatari Emir signed the defense pact without disclosing its details or implementation mechanisms, while the four additional agreements covered further areas of cooperation between Ankara and Doha.

In related remarks, the Turkish president reaffirmed ongoing coordination with Qatar to prevent renewed military escalation in the Gulf region, stating that both countries will continue working to "prevent the resurgence of war in the Gulf" and to promote dialogue and peace.

Erdogan also highlighted efforts to strengthen the partnership in the energy sector and diversify its fields, as well as to further expand cooperation in the defense industries. He described the newly signed joint defense agreement as marking a new dimension in Turkey-Qatar relations.