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

Turkey and Qatar signed a landmark mutual defence agreement on Friday, strengthening their strategic and security partnership for deterrence amid a rapidly changing security landscape of the Gulf and the Middle East.Turkish president 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.The two leaders adopted the mutual defence agreement "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", according to a joint statement released by the two countries. "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 defence industries, and the exchange of personnel training," the statement said.Both countries said that their agreement underlines their shared vision of a more secure and stable regional order, with Erdogan’s office stating that it will “add a new dimension to the brotherly ties between the two countries.""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,"