Turkiye and Qatar signed a mutual defence agreement on Friday aimed at strengthening their strategic partnership and expanding military cooperation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office announced.
The agreement was signed following a meeting between Erdogan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Istanbul, where the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and major regional developments.
The Qatari leader arrived in Istanbul after attending the United Nations COP31 climate summit in southern Turkiye.
“A mutual defence agreement signed by Turkiye and Qatar today will add a new dimension to the brotherly ties between the two countries,” Erdogan said during the meeting, according to a statement issued by the Turkish presidency.
The statement did not disclose the specific provisions of the agreement or provide details about the military commitments undertaken by either country.
Erdogan also announced that Turkiye and Qatar would expand cooperation in the defence industry, signalling an intention to deepen their existing security relationship.
The Turkish president emphasised that both countries would continue coordinating diplomatic efforts to maintain regional stability and prevent further conflict.
He said Ankara and Doha would work together “to prevent a renewed outbreak of war in the Gulf region and to promote dialogue and peace”.
The two leaders also discussed developments in Gaza, including Israel’s military attacks and the worsening humanitarian situation facing Palestinians in the territory.
According to the Turkish presidency, the discussions additionally covered efforts towards normalisation in Syria and recent political and security developments in Libya.
The meeting reflected the two countries’ shared interest in addressing regional challenges through diplomatic engagement and closer cooperation.
The latest agreement comes amid broader efforts by regional powers to strengthen defence partnerships against a backdrop of continuing instability in the Middle East.
In August, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a joint defence agreement in Makkah, bringing together three Sunni Muslim countries that maintain close security relationships with the United States.
The agreement was concluded at a time of heightened regional tensions and continuing conflicts across the Middle East.
Friday’s agreement between Ankara and Doha represents another development in regional defence cooperation, although the precise scope and implementation arrangements have yet to be publicly disclosed.