Turkey signs deal to deploy forces in Qatar

DOHA – Anadolu Agency

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Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has concluded a military agreement that involves the deployment of the Turkish Armed Forces in Qatar, during his official two-day visit to the Gulf nation. 

The measure was signed by Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz and his Qatari counterpart Khalid bin Mohammad al-Attiyah at a ceremony where Davutoğlu and Qatari Interior Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani were also present. 

According to reports, the Turkish prime minister is expected to visit the command post of Turkish ground troops in Qatar on April 29. 

Davutoğlu was set to discuss regional security and stability during his meetings in Qatar on April 27-28, as the two states look to further boost their close cooperation. 

Earlier this month, Davutoğlu held a bilateral meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani when the two participated in a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. 

Late last month, having attended a three-day Dimdex defense and security fair in Doha, Defense Minister Yılmaz said a Turkish military base being built in Qatar, the first Turkish military facility in the region, would be ready within two years.

The deal is part of a defense agreement concluded by Qatar and Turkey in late 2014, which envisaged joint military training and the deployment of the Turkish armed forces on Qatar’s territory.