Ankara and Doha Announce Joint Statement: $5 Billion Target and 206 Turkish Projects in Qatar

The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced the joint statement of the 12th meeting of the Supreme Strategic Committee between Turkey and Qatar, held in Istanbul under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, with the participation of the ministers responsible for the areas of cooperation specified in the memorandum of understanding signed on 19 December 2014.

The two sides reaffirmed the goal of raising the volume of trade exchange to $5 billion, and agreed to examine the contribution of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), signed in 2018 and in force since 1 August 2025, to reaching this goal.

The statement recorded the two sides' satisfaction with Qatari investments in Turkey, and with Turkish contracting companies carrying out 206 projects in Qatar with a total value of $20.8 billion. It stressed the importance of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), while announcing readiness to hold its second meeting in Doha, and agreeing to hold the seventh meeting of the Joint Committee for Economic and Technical Cooperation in Doha at the earliest possible date.

The statement welcomed the signing of the "Joint Defense Agreement between Turkey and Qatar", considering that it reflects a commitment to protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two signatories, and a shared vision for a more secure and stable regional order. It also valued the "Badr Memorandum" signed between Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia as an important step toward building joint capabilities in meeting defense needs.

On the humanitarian front, the two sides demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all humanitarian workers and detained UN staff, and announced their agreement to coordinate relief efforts in Gaza and to support early recovery and reconstruction, with a call for full, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, and work to increase shelter capacity and aid. The statement called on Israel to fully comply with the ceasefire agreement and with all its obligations under international law.

The statement addressed cooperation in the fields of environment and climate change, including the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) and the "Zero Waste" initiative, with reference to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It announced the signing of a "Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Field of Peace, Reconciliation and Conflict Resolution" to enhance mediation and the settlement of disputes.