Turkey and Qatar Sign New Mutual Defense Agreement in Istanbul
Turkey and Qatar signed a new mutual defense agreement in Istanbul during the 12th High Strategic Committee meeting co-chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Turkey and Qatar signed a new mutual defense agreement on Friday during the 12th meeting of the High Strategic Committee between the two nations held in Istanbul. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed the pact at the Dolmabahce Palace presidential office following bilateral talks and delegation-level meetings.
According to reports citing the Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency, authorities from both countries have not yet disclosed the precise clauses of the new defense pact. The agreement was one of five pacts signed during the summit. During their discussions, the two leaders also addressed Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip and the regional humanitarian situation, alongside normalization efforts in Syria and recent developments in Libya.
Strategic Defense Partnership
Erdogan noted during his meeting with Al Thani that the new agreement adds another layer to the strategic partnership between the nations. Concurrently, Erdogan emphasized the necessity of preventing renewed conflict in the Gulf and maintaining diplomatic channels to ensure peace, calling for sustained efforts to encourage involved parties to resolve disputes through dialogue.
The deepening military alliance builds upon a security partnership that began in 2014 and took effect in 2017 following approval by the Turkish parliament. The existing framework encompasses military knowledge sharing, defense industry development, and access to military facilities, including ports and airspace, with Turkey maintaining a military presence in Qatar under a separate deployment arrangement.
Expanding Economic and Bilateral Ties
In addition to the defense pact, the foreign ministers of both nations signed a joint declaration marking the 12th committee meeting alongside a memorandum of understanding on peace, reconciliation, and dispute resolution. Trade and education ministers signed further agreements covering consumer protection, market supervision, and educational cooperation.
On the economic front, bilateral trade volume reached $1.3 billion in 2025, with Ankara and Doha sharing a joint target of $5 billion annually, following the entry into force of a trade and economic partnership agreement on August 1, 2025.
