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

Turkish 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 including the defence pact.

According to a joint statement, the mutual defence agreement is "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".

The agreement includes provisions for consultations on security threats, joint military exercises, collaboration in defence industries, and personnel training exchanges, reflecting both countries' shared vision for a more secure regional order.

Regional defence realignments

The new partnership comes amid rapid regional defence realignments triggered by the Iran war. Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Indonesia have been shaping a new map of defence alliances in the region within months.

While Gulf nations maintain that the United States' security umbrella remains central to their architecture, they are widening their defence strategies amid Washington's global realignment and the ongoing "no war, no peace" reality.

In August, Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement," which was ratified by the Turkish parliament last week. This pact links NATO member Turkey with nuclear-armed Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's leading power.

Turkey has stated the agreement is not aimed at any other country and remains open to other states, including Egypt. In August, Pakistan and Kuwait also signed a joint defence agreement, and in October, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia signed the "Badr" memorandum on defence industry cooperation.

Broader cooperation

Beyond defence, the two leaders discussed Israel's attacks on Gaza and the humanitarian situation in Palestinian territory, efforts towards normalization in Syria, and developments in Libya during their meeting.

Qatar and Turkey also signed multiple agreements on trade and energy cooperation as well as diplomacy, education and culture, expanding their bilateral relationship across multiple sectors.

Erdogan's office emphasized that the defence agreement "will add a new dimension to the brotherly ties between the two countries," highlighting the deepening strategic partnership between Ankara and Doha in a volatile regional environment.