Turkey and Qatar sign five bilateral agreements including mutual defense pact

Turkey and Qatar signed five bilateral agreements on Friday, November 13, 2026, to strengthen cooperation in defense, trade, education, and diplomacy. The signing ceremony took place at the Turkish Presidency office in Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul during the 12th High Strategic Committee meeting. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed a mutual defense agreement as part of the expanded partnership.

Strategic and defense cooperation

The mutual defense agreement marks a significant expansion of the relationship between the two nations. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that the mutual defense agreement will add a new dimension to the brotherhood and partnership between Ankara and Doha. The President also noted that Turkey will work with Qatar to prevent the renewal of war in the Gulf region.

The 12th High Strategic Committee meeting provided a platform for leaders to discuss strategic relations in defense, trade, investment, energy, and education. During these discussions, the leaders addressed several critical regional developments. These included the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian situation in the region, and the ongoing situations in Syria and Libya.

The defense cooperation follows recent regional legislative developments. The Turkish Parliament ratified the Mecca Agreement for mutual defense between Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia approximately one week prior to the November 13 meeting. According to reports from Khaberni, the Mecca Agreement stipulates that an attack on one party is considered an attack on all parties.

Trade and economic partnerships

The new agreements include a memorandum of understanding regarding consumer protection, market monitoring, and inspection. This document was signed by Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Qatari Minister of Commerce and Industry Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani.

These efforts build upon existing economic frameworks between the two nations. A trade and economic partnership agreement between Turkey and Qatar entered into force in 2025. The current meeting focused on deepening these ties through the High Strategic Committee, which oversees high-level strategic relations in investment and energy sectors.

Diplomacy and education agreements

The two nations also signed a memorandum of understanding on peace, reconciliation, and dispute settlement. This diplomatic agreement was signed by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Further cooperation in the social sector was established through an education cooperation agreement. This agreement was signed by Turkish Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin and Qatari Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi. The series of agreements aims to formalize long-term institutional ties across multiple sectors of governance and social development.

Glossary

• Syria — In the most common historical sense, Syria refers to the entire northern Levant. It can also refer to the entire Levant as far south as Roman Egypt, including Mesopotamia.
• Dolmabahçe Palace — Dolmabahçe Palace is a 19th-century imperial palace located in Istanbul, Turkey. It served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire during two different periods in the 19th and 20th centuries.