Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani signed a mutual defence agreement on Friday in Istanbul. According to a joint statement issued after talks between the two leaders, the nations pledged a unified stance against any external armed attack targeting either country.
The agreement, signed during the 12th session of their Supreme Strategic Committee, aims to strengthen collective defence and promote regional security. The two sides agreed to consult on threats to their security, regional and global security issues, and defence policies. They also planned to expand cooperation through personnel training exchanges, joint military exercises, and defence-industry cooperation.
The joint communiqué stated that the agreement reflected a commitment to safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as a shared vision for a more secure and stable regional order. The Turkish presidency reported in a statement on X that "President Erdogan stated that we would continue working together to prevent the resurgence of war in the Gulf region and establish a basis for dialogue and achieve peace."
The two countries also expressed a readiness to pursue energy cooperation, specifically in liquefied natural gas trade. The Turkish presidency noted that the nations are working to develop and diversify their energy partnership while continuing to grow their cooperation in the defence industry.
The pact follows the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed in August by Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. That agreement, which was ratified by the Turkish parliament last week, links NATO member Turkey with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Under that August agreement, an attack on one party constitutes an attack on all. Turkey has stated that the Mecca agreement is not aimed at any other country and remains open to other states, including Egypt.
