Türkiye, Qatar cement strategic alliance with new defence, trade agreements

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani have overseen the signing of a series of key agreements aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in defence, trade, and strategic development.

The deals were concluded during high-level talks in Doha on October 22, 2025, as part of President Erdoğan’s official visit to the Gulf state, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

The signing ceremony followed the 11th Meeting of the Türkiye–Qatar High Strategic Committee, co-chaired by President Erdoğan and Emir Al Thani. The session marked a pivotal step in enhancing the already robust ties between the two allied nations, reaffirming their commitment to broad-based collaboration.

The newly signed agreements span a wide range of strategic sectors, reflecting the comprehensive nature of the partnership. Among the highlights:

• A memorandum of understanding on defence industry cooperation was signed between Haluk Görgün, President of Türkiye's Defence Industry Agency, and Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

• A joint ministerial statement on trade cooperation was formalized by Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Qatari Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani.

• An agreement on strategic development planning was also signed, further reinforcing long-term economic collaboration.

Additionally, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani signed the joint declaration of the High Strategic Committee, setting the framework for the next phase of bilateral cooperation between Ankara and Doha.

Since 2015, the two nations have maintained strong defence ties, notably through the presence of the Tariq Bin Ziyad military base in Qatar, which serves as a symbol of their shared security interests.

President Erdoğan’s visit to Doha represents the second leg of a three-nation Gulf tour, which began in Kuwait and will conclude in Oman. The diplomatic mission seeks to bolster Türkiye’s regional engagement through strategic partnerships with key Gulf states.

By Vafa Guliyeva