Turkey and Qatar Sign Joint Defense Agreement and Four Other Cooperation Documents

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, signed five agreements within the framework of the twelfth meeting of the Turkish-Qatari Supreme Strategic Committee, at the Presidential Dolmabahce Office in Istanbul.

The most prominent document signed was the "Joint Defense Agreement," which Erdogan and the Emir Tamim signed directly. Erdogan affirmed that the agreement "will add a new dimension to the brotherhood of the two countries," noting that the trade and economic partnership agreement that entered into force last year brings the two countries closer to the goals for the joint trade volume.

Trade Minister Omer Bolat and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani signed the memorandum of understanding in the field of consumer protection and market monitoring. Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin and Qatari Minister of State Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi signed the cooperation agreement in the field of education.

On the diplomatic front, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in peace, reconciliation and dispute settlement, as well as the joint statement of the twelfth meeting of the Supreme Strategic Committee.

The Presidency of Communications indicated that the two sides discussed developing and diversifying the energy partnership, and that cooperation in the defense industries will continue to escalate. The meeting also touched on the situations in Gaza and Libya and the Syrian normalization track.