403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
Turkey to set up Qatar military base to face 'common enemies'
(MENAFN- Arab News) DOHA: Turkey will establish a military base in Qatar as part of a defense agreement aimed at helping them confront 'common enemies' Turkey's ambassador to Qatar said on Wednesday.
Establishment of the base part of an agreement signed in 2014 and ratified by Turkey's parliament in June intensifies the partnership with Qatar at a time of rising instability and a perceived waning of US interest in the region.
The envoy Ahmet Demirok told Reuters that 3000 ground troops would be stationed at the base Turkey's first overseas military installation in the Middle East as well as air and naval units military trainers and special operations forces.
The 'multipurpose' base will primarily serve as a venue for joint training exercises. The agreement also grants Qatar the option of setting up its own base in Turkey he said in an interview.
'Turkey and Qatar face common problems and we are both very concerned about developments in the region and uncertain policies of other countries ... We confront common enemies. At this critical time for the Middle East cooperation between us is vital' Demirok said.
Qatar is home to the largest US air base in the Middle East Al Udeid where around 10000 military personnel are stationed though US interest in the region is perceived to be lessening.
Demirok said 100 Turkish troops were currently in Qatar training the Gulf state's military. He did not say when the new Turkish base would be completed.
'Today we are not building a new alliance but rather rediscovering historic and brotherly ties' he said referring to the Muslim Ottoman Empire which before its collapse in 1920 stretched from eastern Europe to the Arab Gulf.
'With the perceived disengagement by the United States from the Gulf what we are witnessing now is a diversification of potential allies' said Jean-Marc Rickli a professor at King's College London teaching at Qatar National Defense College.
'If you are a small state like Qatar you have an interest in hosting several allies on your territory because it provides you with an indirect security guarantee from your ally. Moreover it increases the costs for the aggressor of any potential attack.'
Establishment of the base part of an agreement signed in 2014 and ratified by Turkey's parliament in June intensifies the partnership with Qatar at a time of rising instability and a perceived waning of US interest in the region.
The envoy Ahmet Demirok told Reuters that 3000 ground troops would be stationed at the base Turkey's first overseas military installation in the Middle East as well as air and naval units military trainers and special operations forces.
The 'multipurpose' base will primarily serve as a venue for joint training exercises. The agreement also grants Qatar the option of setting up its own base in Turkey he said in an interview.
'Turkey and Qatar face common problems and we are both very concerned about developments in the region and uncertain policies of other countries ... We confront common enemies. At this critical time for the Middle East cooperation between us is vital' Demirok said.
Qatar is home to the largest US air base in the Middle East Al Udeid where around 10000 military personnel are stationed though US interest in the region is perceived to be lessening.
Demirok said 100 Turkish troops were currently in Qatar training the Gulf state's military. He did not say when the new Turkish base would be completed.
'Today we are not building a new alliance but rather rediscovering historic and brotherly ties' he said referring to the Muslim Ottoman Empire which before its collapse in 1920 stretched from eastern Europe to the Arab Gulf.
'With the perceived disengagement by the United States from the Gulf what we are witnessing now is a diversification of potential allies' said Jean-Marc Rickli a professor at King's College London teaching at Qatar National Defense College.
'If you are a small state like Qatar you have an interest in hosting several allies on your territory because it provides you with an indirect security guarantee from your ally. Moreover it increases the costs for the aggressor of any potential attack.'
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment