Turkey, Qatar sign mutual defence agreement, pledge unified stance against attack

In Istanbul on Friday, Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani signed a mutual defence agreement aimed at bolstering collective defense and enhancing regional security. The pact, outlined in a joint statement, commits both nations to consult on security threats and collaborate on various fronts, including expanding military exercises, defense industry partnerships, and personnel training exchanges.

The agreement underscores Turkey and Qatar's dedication to preserving their sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as their shared aspiration for a more secure and stable regional order, as stated in the joint communique following their 12th Supreme Strategic Committee session. President Erdogan pledged that they would continue working together to prevent the resurgence of war in the Gulf region and foster a basis for dialogue to achieve peace.

Moreover, the countries signaled their readiness to deepen their energy cooperation, particularly in the trade of liquefied natural gas, capitalizing on their existing relationship. The Turkish presidency emphasized that Turkey and Qatar are striving to develop and diversify their energy partnership. Earlier this month, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed a joint defense agreement in Mecca, bringing together Sunni Muslim US allies amid ongoing regional conflicts.

Turkey's parliament ratified the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement last week, paving the way for Ankara to offer military support to Saudi Arabia, which has been grappling with attacks from Iran-backed Houthi militants. Under the agreement, an assault on one party is considered an assault on all.