Qatar and Turkey sign defence agreement for “unified position” facing external attacks

A fast-moving reshape of the Gulf and Middle East multilateral security landscape is underway, triggered by the Iran war and the US signals that it is adapting its long-standing security presence in the region.

Turkey and Qatar signed a landmark mutual defence agreement on Friday, strengthening their strategic and security partnership for deterrence amid a rapidly changing security landscape of the Gulf and the Middle East.

Turkish president President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met in Istanbul on Friday to co-chair the Supreme Strategic Committee between Qatar and Turkey, concluding a wide range of bilateral agreements.

The two leaders adopted the mutual defence agreement "aimed at bolstering collective defence and achieving regional security and stability, as well as adopting a unified position in the face of any external armed attack targeting either or both parties", according to a joint statement released by the two countries.

"The two parties agreed to hold consultations on threats to their security... and to strengthen cooperation through joint military exercises, collaboration in the field of defence industries, and the exchange of personnel training," the statement said.

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