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Qatar and Trkiye on Friday (local time) signed a Mutual Defence Agreement amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region, with Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan formalising the pact during the 12th session of the Supreme Strategic Committee meeting in Istanbul.
The two leaders also discussed regional developments, including efforts to prevent a resumption of hostilities in the Gulf, promote dialogue and establish peace, according to a statement issued by Trkiye's Directorate of Communications. The agreement was signed at Dolmabahe Palace in Istanbul, according to a statement issued by Qatar's Amiri Diwan, which said the two leaders also witnessed the exchange of several bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding. Following the meeting, Qatar's Amir highlighted the growing strategic partnership between Doha and Ankara, emphasising the importance of building on existing achievements and identifying new priorities for cooperation. "The strategic partnership between Qatar and Trkiye continues to develop across various fields, as reflected in todays meeting of the 12th session of the Supreme Strategic Committee between our two countries, which I co-chaired in Istanbul with my brother President Recep Tayyip Erdoan. We discussed ways to build on what has been achieved and identify priorities for joint action in the coming period," Sheikh Tamim said in a post on X. According to Trkiye's Directorate of Communications, President Erdoan said the Mutual Defence Agreement signed between the two countries would add a new dimension to their longstanding bilateral ties. Erdoan also highlighted progress in economic relations, noting that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force last year, had brought the two countries closer to achieving their bilateral trade volume target. "President Erdoan stated that the Mutual Defence Agreement signed by Trkiye and Qatar today would add a new dimension to the brotherly ties between the two countries, noting that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force last year, had brought the two countries closer to achieving the bilateral trade volume target," the Trkiye's Directorate of Communications said in a post on X. He further underscored Trkiye's efforts to expand and diversify its partnership with Qatar in the energy sector, adding that cooperation in the defence industry would continue to grow. On regional developments, Erdoan stressed the importance of preventing a resumption of hostilities in the Gulf region, facilitating dialogue and establishing peace. He also called for encouraging the parties concerned to resolve their differences through diplomatic means. The discussions also covered Israel's attacks on Gaza and the humanitarian situation in the region, steps towards normalisation in Syria and the latest developments in Libya, the Turkish Directorate of Communications said. Apart from the Mutual Defence Agreement, the two countries also witnessed the exchange of agreements and MoUs covering cooperation in consumer protection and market surveillance, education, and peace, reconciliation and conflict resolution. A joint communiqu of the 12th session of the Supreme Strategic Committee was also exchanged. The latest agreement comes amid wider regional defence cooperation involving Trkiye. In August, Trkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a regional defence pact under which the three countries would come to each other's assistance if one of them came under attack. The pact, ratified by the Turkish parliament last week, brings together NATO member Trkiye, which has the alliance's second-largest military, and Pakistan, the Muslim world's only nuclear-armed state. The agreement between Qatar and Trkiye further formalises their defence partnership while reinforcing their broader strategic engagement through established bilateral mechanisms. (ANI)
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