Türkiye and Qatar announced on Friday that they signed a mutual defense agreement, which they said was aimed at adopting a "unified position" in the face of an external attack. The announcement came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Istanbul. Erdogan had said the agreement would further strengthen ties between them, according to his office. Qatar's ruler travelled to Istanbul after attending the United Nations COP31 climate summit in southern Türkiye. "The two parties hailed the signing of the mutual defense agreement between Qatar and Türkiye," according to a joint statement carried by Qatar's state news agency. The agreement was "aimed at bolstering collective defense 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 statement said. "The two parties agreed to hold consultations on threats to their security... and to strengthen cooperation through joint military exercises, collaboration in the field of defense industries, and the exchange of personnel training." Erdogan's office had earlier announced the agreement, without going into the details of its contents. "A mutual defense agreement signed by Türkiye and Qatar today will add a new dimension to the brotherly ties between the two countries," Erdogan said during the meeting, according to the statement from his office. Erdogan also said Türkiye and Qatar would expand cooperation in the defense industry.
