Turkish President Erdoğan and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sign a strategic agreement in Doha, reinforcing Türkiye-Qatar cooperation amid Gaza ceasefire talks. Image: Al Jazeera.
(The Post News)- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on Wednesday, driving bilateral coordination and solidifying steps to support the Gaza ceasefire. The meeting was the final stop of Erdoğan’s Gulf tour aimed at diplomacy, defense, and regional stability.
The two leaders chaired the 11th Türkiye-Qatar High Strategic Committee Meeting, which saw ministers and senior officials sign an array of high-impact deals in areas ranging from trade, defense, and strategic planning to industrial cooperation.
Türkiye and Qatar Deepen Bilateral Ties
High-level delegation meetings were preceded by one-on-one summits between Erdoğan and Sheikh Tamim. The two leaders witnessed the signing of several significant documents that further solidify the Türkiye-Qatar union.
Key agreements included:
A Joint Statement on the 11th High Strategic Committee Meeting. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strategic planning cooperation in development between the Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and the Qatari National Planning Council Secretary-General Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa. A joint ministerial statement between the trade ministries of both countries, signed by Türkiye’s Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Qatar’s Commerce Minister Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani. An MoU on defense industry cooperation
The agreements align with both countries’ visions for stepped-up bilateral investments and enhanced long-term regional presence. The Gaza humanitarian situation was on the agenda during Erdoğan‘s meeting with Sheikh Tamim. The leaders emphasized the importance of upholding the existing Gaza ceasefire and preventing further escalation.
Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said Erdoğan underscored that the Palestinian people need lasting peace, and only an independent Palestinian state can be the sole solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. “The ceasefire is a short-term relief, but only a two-state solution can bring lasting stability,” Erdoğan told the Emir.
On Tuesday evening, prior to the Erdoğan-Al Thani meeting, Turkish intelligence agency chief İbrahim Kalın and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted a Hamas delegation, led by Mohammed Darwish, in Doha. While no definitive conclusions were reached, Turkish sources confirmed that discussions broached the fragility of the ceasefire and the finality of a governing Gaza post-conflict.
One of Turkey’s leading diplomats noted, “Gaza plans in the future will be subject to the United States and Israel’s response. At present, Türkiye and Qatar are attempting to maintain the ceasefire and Palestinian representation.”
Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s readiness to join an international intervention for Gaza, including a possible military contribution. Turkish troops could aid peacekeeping and recovery efforts on a humanitarian basis, coordinating with other regional and global powers. Meanwhile, Türkiye has already dispatched 81 disaster response personnel, waiting at the Egyptian border to be approved to enter Gaza to perform recovery activities.
King’s College London security expert Andreas Krieg noted that a Turkish presence in Gaza “could pave the way for a multinational peacekeeping presence,” noting that Türkiye and Qatar are influential over both the U.S. and Hamas.
Defence Deal
Turkish defense cooperation with Qatar could even include the purchase of fighter aircraft in the future. Ankara’s desire to acquire up to 12 second-hand Eurofighter Typhoon planes from Qatar was confirmed by Turkish sources.
The agreement would be finalized after Qatar gets fresh shipments of airplanes between late 2025 and early 2026. The specifics of the defense agreement will be negotiated in the upcoming weeks, according to Turkish sources.
Erdoğan’s trip to Qatar follows his trip to Kuwait, where he signed additional agreements and urged Islamic nations to proceed together on Palestine. From Qatar, Erdoğan visited Muscat, Oman, completing his three-nation Gulf tour. As part of the tour, Erdoğan has promoted regional cooperation, humanitarian aid, and a broader coalition in favor of a lasting Gaza peace.
Türkiye and Qatar’s strengthened ties go beyond common interests. Together, they are actively charting the Middle East’s future, particularly Gaza, where Erdoğan and Sheikh Tamim now stand as major regional mediators. Their common message: the ceasefire must hold, aid must be delivered, and Palestinians must have a say in their future.
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