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The Republic of Turkey has constantly sought out good relations with the Arab world and has paid great attention to not intervening in Arab affairs. However, this reservist attitude toward the Arab world started to change in the 1980s during which time Turkey had started to consider the Arab world as a lucrative market for Turkish made products and foreign capital under the then Prime Minister of Turgut ÖZAL’s leadership. Turkey’s relations with the Arab world gained significant momentum when the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in Ankara in November 2002. The AKP has viewed the Arabs as natural allies. Believing that stronger ties between Turkey and the Arab world could solve most of the problems in the region, Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN, Turkey’s President and the Chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party, have made tremendous efforts during last 18 years to improve and expand both economic and political relations between Turkey and the Arab world.
During the first decade of the 2000s, as an active partner of the Arab states, Turkey developed economic, political and defense related relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC/an alliance of six Gulf monarchies; Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman that had signed a defense pact to consider an attack on one of them as an attack on all). Turkey’s institutional relations with the GCC commenced with the “Framework Agreement for Economic Cooperation between Turkey and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC)” signed on May 30, 2005 in Manama, Bahrain. Thanks to the high level of economic and political relations on September 2, 2008 Turkey became a strategic partner of the GCC with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a Strategic Dialogue Mechanism between Turkey and the GCC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With this MoU Turkey became the first non-Gulf state able to attain the status of GCC’s strategic partner. Trade volume between Turkey and the GCC have grown from US$$1.5 Billion in 1999 to US$16 Billion in 2014. Turkish Government has previously declared a target of US$100 Billion trade with GCC countries by 2023.
However, Turkey’s relations with the GCC began to deteriorate rapidly soon after the July 2013 military coup in Egypt against Mohamed MORSI, the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood who had been elected President of Egypt. While Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, asserted that the Muslim Brotherhood was a recruiting vehicle for Sunni terrorist groups in the region, Turkey and Qatar claimed that it was a moderate political Islamist movement that could foster regional stability through participation in the legitimate political process, so they provided region-wide support to the Muslim Brotherhood. Turkey also insisted that MORSI should be returned to power. So as a result of differences over the Muslim Brotherhood issue and the new military government of Egypt, Turkey’s relations with the GCC was strained and tensions led the to the creation of Saudis-Emiratis and Turkish-Qataris blocks.
Due to political dispute over the Muslim Brotherhood and other issues the differences between Saudis-Emiratis and Turkish-Qataris blocks widened and by accusing Qatar of supporting “terrorism”, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain withdrew their ambassadors from Doha in March 2014. In November 2014, the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia made the decision to return their ambassadors to Doha, Qatar after an agreement was reached to resolve an 8 month-long dispute between the GCC states. In response to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt’s threats, Qatar chose Turkey as an ally and allowed the country to open a military base in its territories. On December 19, 2014, the two countries inked a military cooperation agreement that allows the deployment of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) in the State of Qatar. The agreement was ratified by the Turkish Parliament (TBMM) on March 19, 2015 and the first group of Turkish troops arrived in the capital city of Doha on October 4, 2015. As a result of these developments and diplomatic tensions Turkey’s economic ties with GCC countries have suffered a setback.
Impact of the Gulf Crisis and Turkey-Qatar Relations
Though the history of bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey go back 1972, it is a fact that their relations have gained significant momentum after the Gulf Crisis, during which time Turkey stood firmly with the State of Qatar.
The differences between Qatar and other member states of the GCC erupted again following the May 20-22, 2017, visit of US President Donald TRUMP to Saudi Arabia, during which he expressed substantial support for Saudi leaders. And on June 5, 2017 the Gulf Crisis broke out when a handful of Arab states led by Saudi Arabia (the de facto leader of the GCC) abruptly severed diplomatic relations with the State of Qatar, expelled Qatar’s diplomats, recalled their ambassadors, and imposed a blockade on the country, despite Qatar being a fellow member of the GCC. It is clear that the Gulf Crisis revealed the fragility of the GCC and created a negative impact on existing diplomatic, economic and military relations between Turkey and the GCC.
The Gulf Crisis also shed light on the emerging defense relations between Turkey and Qatar and proved to Qatar how valuable its relationship with Turkey was. Turkey helped its ally to cope with the Saudi-led blockade and prevented a military escalation of the crisis, as both Riyadh and the UAE reportedly had plans to invade Qatar. On June 22, 2017, the Saudi-led group presented Qatar with 13 demands, including severing relations with the Muslim Brotherhood, scaling back relations with Iran, closure of Turkey’s permanent military base in Qatar, termination of military cooperation with Turkey inside Qatar, and paying reparations for its actions.
However, the State of Qatar refused to meet these demands and agreed with Turkey to increase the size of the Turkish military contingent in the country and to expand the Qatar-Turkey Combined Joint Force Command in Doha with naval and aerial components. On June 7, 2017 the Turkish Parliament (TBMM) ratified two deals on deploying troops in Qatar and training its gendarmerie forces. As part of the expansion plan construction of a new base near the Tariq Bin Ziyad military barracks was launched and completed in August 2019. Turkey also increased food exports to Qatar to replace those previously provided by Saudi Arabia. Qatar, as a small peninsular Gulf state, has struggled to maintain food supplies because of the imposed embargo on the country. According to reports soon after the imposition of the blockade, Turkey dispatched airlift (on June 22, 2017 the then Economy Minister Nihat ZEYBEKÇİ disclosed that 105 cargo planes from Turkey carried aid to Qatar) and naval expeditions and supplied Doha with approximately thousands of tons of food supplies. The sea route had been opened because air transport was insufficient to meet the needs of the population of the State of Qatar.
Turkey-Qatar Economic and Trade Relations
Economic relations between Turkey and Qatar witnessed substantial development in the 21st century. In line with Turkey’s deepening relations with Qatar, Turkey has become an important destination for Qatari tourists. The volume of Qatari capital investments in Turkey increasing steadily during last two decades. In the 2000s, the total trade volume between the two countries was just US$38 Million. By 2014, this figure had increased to US$739 Million and by the end of 2018, trade volume between the two countries increased by 57%, compared to 2017, and reached a level of US$1.4 Billion. According to Qatar Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali Bin Ahmed Al-KUWARI, the level of trade exchange between the two countries, which doubled by 78.8% to reach about QR 8.7 Billion in 2018, compared to QR 4.8 Billion in 2017, while Qatari exports to Turkey recorded growth of about 99% between 2017 and 2018, and Qatari imports from Turkey grew by about 64.9% during the same period. Qatar ranks first among the Gulf countries in terms of the number of projects undertaken by Turkish contractors.
Speaking to media in January 2020 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Yavuz Selim KIRAN disclosed that standing at US$6.4 Billion Qatar’s foreign direct investment in Turkey between 2005 and 2019 represents the 1.2% of Turkey’s cumulative foreign direct investment. Deputy Minister KIRAN also stressed that as of 2019 there were 170 companies with Qatar capital operating in Turkey. “Qatar is the 7th country where Turkish Contracting Industry companies undertake the most projects abroad. The total value of projects undertaken by Turkish companies in Qatar has reached US$18.3 Billion (many of them related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament). With the project price of US$1.2 Billion received in 2019, Qatar became the 2nd country with the highest number of jobs after Russia, with a share of 6.6%. Qatar expects to see many more Turkish companies setting up production facilities in Doha.
Speaking at the Qatari-Turkish Economic Forum held in November 2019 in Ankara, Qatar Minister of Commerce and Industry Al-KUWARI underlined that Turkish companies operating in Qatar play an important role in supporting the national economy, where more than 499 Qatari-Turkish joint ventures operate in the fields of trade, contracting and information technology, while the number of companies wholly owned by the Turkish side is 37, which are leading companies working in the fields of construction, and industry.
The volume of exports from Turkey to the State of Qatar has also been increasing steadily since 2002. According to Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM) figures, in 2019 Turkish exports to the State of Qatar rose to US$1.101 Billion from US$1.018,265 Billion (representing an 8.11% increase) in 2018. The volume of Turkey’s exports to Qatar was US$15 Million in 2002.
Military Cooperation Between Qatar & Turkey
The State of Qatar and Turkey currently maintain strong military ties. Several military cooperation agreements have been signed between the two countries during last decade, and Turkey steadily increase its military equipment exports to the State of Qatar. Turkey’s military involvement in Doha dates back to December 2014, when Head of the State of Qatar Tamim Bin Hamad Al-THANI paid an official visit to Turkey. During the visit on December 19, 2014 the two countries signed a comprehensive military cooperation agreement that allows for the deployment of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) in the State of Qatar and agreed to set up a bilateral cooperation and consultation group called the Turkey-Qatar High Strategic Committee, headed by the Qatari emir and Turkish President.
Since then the Committee has convened five times – in December 2015, December 2016, November 2017, November 2018, and November 2019 sometimes in Qatar and sometimes in Turkey – to sign framework agreements and memorandums of understanding in different spheres, including the military sphere, with the aim of deepening the collaboration and strengthening the ties between the countries. At the fourth meeting of the High Strategic Committee, held in Istanbul on November 26, 2018 and attended by the Turkish president and Qatari emir, the two countries signed, inter alia, memorandums of understanding on cooperation in the cyber field and the exchange of military delegations, alongside agreements on culture, economy, and trade. The Committee's fifth meeting was held in Doha on November 25, 2019 under the co-chairmanship of the Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-THANI and Turkish President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN and witnessed the signature of 7 agreements in various fields including economy, urbanization, trade, industry, technology, and standardization to boost bilateral relations.
Under an agreement signed on December 19, 2014 Turkey set up its first permanent military base at Tariq Bin Ziyad military barracks. The establishment of Turkey’s first permanent military base, which was named the Qatar-Turkey Combined Joint Force Command in December 2017, in Doha at Tariq Bin Ziyad military barracks, was completed in April 2016. Construction of Turkey’s second permanent base near the Tariq Bin Ziyad military barracks was completed in August 2019. The Qatar-Turkey Combined Joined Force Command’s new Headquarters was officially opened with a ceremony held on December 14, 2019 with the participation of Turkish Minister of National Defense (MoND) Hulusi AKAR, Chief of Turkish General Staff (TGS) General Yaşar GÜLER and Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Khalid Bin Mohamed Al-ATTIYAH. The new base was named after Khalid Bin Walid. The inauguration of the second Turkish permanent military base in Qatar further fortified the bilateral military and defense cooperation between the two nations. The new military base in Doha also reflects Turkey’s increasing involvement in the security of the State of Qatar and the Gulf region in general. However, Turkey’s increasing military presence in the region has created considerable discomfort among Qatar’s neighbors.
Since the eruption of Gulf Crisis in June 2017, cooperation between the Turkish and Qatari militaries has notably intensified through a number of high-level visits, joint training and war games. On June 19, 2017 Turkey-Qatar joint military exercise was carried out at the Tariq Bin Ziyad military barracks. On July 31, 2017, Turkish Gabya Class frigate TCG Gökova, carrying 214 sailors, arrived in Hamad Port for two days of naval exercises with the Qatari Navy. Conducted during August 1-8, 2017 as part of military cooperation agreements between Turkey and Qatar the joint naval exercise, codenamed “Iron Shield” included combat maritime maneuvers. In March 2018, Turkish forces participated in the Qatari Army's “Lion's Den Exercise”; in April 2018 forces from both countries participated the “Sahin 20” joint military exercise in the Gulf; in December 2018 they held the “Al-Khandaq” joint exercise in Turkey, and in February 2019 the Qatari forces participated in the Winter-2019 Exercise, an annual exercise held in the city of Kars in northeastern Turkey. In late April 2019 Qatar's Border Guard held a joint exercise with the Turkish forces in Qatar. Furthermore, in the same month the Turkish Air Force (TurAF) participated in the “FALCON-21 Exercise” with the Qatari Air Force. In June 2019, the Qatari Air Force participated in the 15-day Anatolian Eagle Exercise in Turkey. On March 8, 2020 the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced that the Qatar-Turkey Joint Military Exercise “Invincible Sentry 2020 (Al-Hares Al-Mane 2020)” hosted by Qatar has been kicked off with the participation of Turkish troops. According to a MoND announcement Turkey participates in the Exercise with two Commando Teams from the Qatar-Turkey Combined Joint Force Command, one Special Forces Team from Turkish Special Forces Command and one SAT (Underwater Offence) Team personnel from Turkish Naval Forces Command. Turkish troops also participate in the “Impregnable Guard 2020” military drill, which is organized by the Qatari Joint Special Forces in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), and the Amiri Guard. The “Impregnable Guard 2020” exercise commenced on March 8th and run through March 27, 2020 along with Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, the Sultanate of Oman and the US. The drill aims to prepare and train the participants to respond to any cross-border security threat.
In order to strengthen the existing cooperation and collaboration between the two-Armed Forces, frequent meetings took place over the years between the Defense Ministers and the Chiefs-of-Staff of the two countries since beginning of the Gulf Crisis. For instance, on November 4, 2017, Qatar Defense Minister Khalid Al-ATTIYAH met with his Turkish counterpart at the time, Nurettin CANİKLİ, to discuss strengthening of military and defense cooperation between the countries as well as the situation in the Gulf. On March 25, 2019 the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lieutenant General (Pilot) Ghanem Bin Shaheen Al-GHANIM met with the Chief of TGS General Yaşar GÜLER in Ankara, Turkey. During the meeting a number of issues of mutual interest were discussed, including means of enhancing and developing bilateral relations and cooperation in defense and military fields. General Al-GHANIM also met Turkish MoND Hulusi AKAR in the presence of General GÜLER and Qatari Ambassador to Turkey, Salem Bin Mubarak Al-SHAFI. During his stay in Ankara, Al-GHANIM also paid a visit to Commander of the Turkish Special Forces. In May 2019, Qatar Defense Minister Al-ATTIYAH met in Qatar with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi AKAR, and the two met again in August 2019, this time in Turkey. In September 2019 Qatari Defense Minister Al-ATTIYAH and the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt. Gen. (Pilot) Al-GHANIM met with the Chief of TGS General Yaşar GÜLER to discuss the military relationship between Turkey and Qatar. On November 6, 2019 at the Turkish Ministry of Defense the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt. Gen. (Pilot) Al-GHANIM met separately with Turkish MoND AKAR and Chief of TGS General GÜLER. During the meetings, they discussed aspects of joint military co-operation between the two sides. On November 29, 2019 the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Al-GHANIM met with the Commander of Turkish Special Forces, Major General Ömer Ertuğrul ERBAKAN, and his accompanying delegation in Doha, Qatar. The meeting discussed military topics of mutual interest. On December 13, 2019 accompanied by Chief of TGS General GÜLER, Turkish MoND AKAR visited Qatar. During the visit he met with the Libyan Government head to discuss the recent maritime deal between Turkey and Libya. He also attended the inauguration ceremony of the Qatar-Turkey Combined Joined Force Command’s new Headquarters in Doha. On December 23, 2019 a Qatari Navy delegation paid a visit to Turkish Naval Forces Command’s Yıldızlar Surface Training Center Command to get firsthand information on the Fire and Damage Control Training Simulator and the Bridge Combat Information Center Simulator Systems. On February 4, 2020 the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Al-GHANIM met with Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces (TNFC) Admiral Adnan ÖZBAL in Doha, Qatar. During the meeting, they reviewed the military relations between the two countries and means of enhancing and developing them. A number of senior officers of the Armed Forces also attended the meeting. On February 13, 2020 Commander of the Qatari Emiri Navy Major-General (Navy) Abdullah Bin Hassan Al-SULAITI received Commander of the TNFC Admiral Adnan ÖZBAL.
On February 19, 2020 the second Qatari-Turkish High-Level Military Dialogue Meeting concluded in Ankara. The delegation of the State of Qatar to the meeting was chaired by the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Al-GHANIM, while the Turkish side was chaired by Chief of TGS General GÜLER according to reports the meeting discussed a number of issues related to the military cooperation between the two countries and ways of promoting and enhancing them. On the sidelines of the meeting, Lt. Gen. Al-GHANIM also met with Turkish MoND AKAR. During the meeting, the two sides are said to have reviewed a number of issues related to military cooperation between the two brotherly countries and means of developing them.
Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry Export Figures
Starting in 2010 in an effort to increase defense cooperation with Islamic countries, Turkey turned its attention to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to export fast intervention boats, rockets/missiles, ammunition and armored vehicles. During recent years, leading Turkish companies such as Anadolu Shipyard, Aselsan, ARES Shipyard, Baykar Makina, BMC, FNSS, Havelsan, Meteksan Defense, Nurol Makina Sanayi (NMS), Otokar, Roketsan, TUSAS, TEI, Vestel Savunma and Yonca-Onuk JV have been quite active particularly in the Middle East and Gulf countries. Acting as partners not suppliers towards the Middle East and Gulf countries, Turkish defense sector companies have dramatically increased their exports and have started to sign high-value export contracts, thanks to the proactive foreign policy, aggressive marketing efforts and state-of-the-art, NATO-standard compliant and cost-effective products.
Emerging as a new arms exporter that can provide more efficient, low cost, combat proven, and less problematic products for arms buyers, the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry has managed to put 5 firms (Aselsan [52nd], TUSAŞ [69th], STM [85th], BMC [85th] and Roketsan [89th]) on the list of the world’s 100 largest defense companies in 2019. According to export figures revealed by the Defense and Aerospace Exporters’ Association (SSI) and the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM), the Turkish Defense and Aerospace Sector has increased exports by 34.6% during 2019 compared to 2018. According to figures Turkey has realized US$2,741 Billion worth of defense and aerospace exports to 164 countries around the globe in 2019. According to data released by TIM, the total weight of products exported by the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry during January 1st – December 31st of 2019 was around 44,315 tons. The annual turnover of the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry also rose to US$9 Billion in 2019. The exports of Turkish Defense and Aerospace Industry are expected to exceed US$3 Billion by the end of 2020.
According to data collected by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), during 2015-2019 with a share of 0.8% Turkey ranked 14th on the list of the 25 largest major arms exporters of the world. Turkey was the 25th largest exporter in 2011. Turkey notably increased its arms exports (specifically armored vehicles and naval vessels/boats) to the Middle East and Gulf countries, which are among the major markets for Turkish Defense & Aerospace Sector sales, during 2013 - 2019 and this trend is expected to last also in 2020. According to TIM’s figures during January 1st – December 31st of 2019, the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry has exported around US$710,145 Million (which was at around US$311,187 Million in 2018 and US$131,52 Million in 2017) worth of military equipment to the Middle East and Gulf countries. According to TIM’s data as of December 31st, 2019 the list of the top 15 countries that imported defense and aerospace products from Turkey is composed of; the US (US$816,623 Million), Oman (US$ 297,199 Million), Germany (US$256,868 Million), Qatar (US$186,168 Million), UAE (US$132,229 Million), Ukraine (US$119,237 Million), Azerbaijan (US$88,676 Million), the Netherlands (US$75,125 Million), the UK (US$60,604 Million), Bahrain (US$40,813 Million), India (US$40,630 Million), Pakistan (US$40,175 Million), Poland (US$33,675 Million), France (US$31,884 Million) and Italy (US$24,720 Million).
According to TIM figures, the total arms exports carried out by the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry soared by 5% during the first two months of 2020 and reached US$348,697 Million. With a total of US$62,187 Million in purchases the Middle East countries took a 17.8% share in Turkey’s arms exports during January 1 – February 29, 2020.
Exporting its defense products to 164 countries around the world Turkey is targeting to become a top six country in the world in terms of defense and aerospace exports. On December 4, 2019 the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), the procurement authority under the Turkish Presidency, issued the “Strategic Plan 2019-2023,” document, which states that the Turkish Defense and Aerospace Sector’s annual turnover will rise to US$26,9 Billion in 2023, from US$8,761 Billion in 2018. According to the “Strategic Plan 2019-2023,” document Turkey plans to boost its defense and aerospace (both military and commercial) exports to US$10.2 Billion by 2023, from US$2,188 Billion in 2018 and by 2023, the local content rate in defense and aerospace projects will reach to 75% up from 65% in 2018, according to the plan.
During the first decade of the 2000s, as an active partner of the Arab states, Turkey developed economic, political and defense related relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC/an alliance of six Gulf monarchies; Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman that had signed a defense pact to consider an attack on one of them as an attack on all). Turkey’s institutional relations with the GCC commenced with the “Framework Agreement for Economic Cooperation between Turkey and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC)” signed on May 30, 2005 in Manama, Bahrain. Thanks to the high level of economic and political relations on September 2, 2008 Turkey became a strategic partner of the GCC with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a Strategic Dialogue Mechanism between Turkey and the GCC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With this MoU Turkey became the first non-Gulf state able to attain the status of GCC’s strategic partner. Trade volume between Turkey and the GCC have grown from US$$1.5 Billion in 1999 to US$16 Billion in 2014. Turkish Government has previously declared a target of US$100 Billion trade with GCC countries by 2023.
However, Turkey’s relations with the GCC began to deteriorate rapidly soon after the July 2013 military coup in Egypt against Mohamed MORSI, the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood who had been elected President of Egypt. While Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, asserted that the Muslim Brotherhood was a recruiting vehicle for Sunni terrorist groups in the region, Turkey and Qatar claimed that it was a moderate political Islamist movement that could foster regional stability through participation in the legitimate political process, so they provided region-wide support to the Muslim Brotherhood. Turkey also insisted that MORSI should be returned to power. So as a result of differences over the Muslim Brotherhood issue and the new military government of Egypt, Turkey’s relations with the GCC was strained and tensions led the to the creation of Saudis-Emiratis and Turkish-Qataris blocks.
Due to political dispute over the Muslim Brotherhood and other issues the differences between Saudis-Emiratis and Turkish-Qataris blocks widened and by accusing Qatar of supporting “terrorism”, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain withdrew their ambassadors from Doha in March 2014. In November 2014, the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia made the decision to return their ambassadors to Doha, Qatar after an agreement was reached to resolve an 8 month-long dispute between the GCC states. In response to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt’s threats, Qatar chose Turkey as an ally and allowed the country to open a military base in its territories. On December 19, 2014, the two countries inked a military cooperation agreement that allows the deployment of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) in the State of Qatar. The agreement was ratified by the Turkish Parliament (TBMM) on March 19, 2015 and the first group of Turkish troops arrived in the capital city of Doha on October 4, 2015. As a result of these developments and diplomatic tensions Turkey’s economic ties with GCC countries have suffered a setback.
Impact of the Gulf Crisis and Turkey-Qatar Relations
Though the history of bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey go back 1972, it is a fact that their relations have gained significant momentum after the Gulf Crisis, during which time Turkey stood firmly with the State of Qatar.
The differences between Qatar and other member states of the GCC erupted again following the May 20-22, 2017, visit of US President Donald TRUMP to Saudi Arabia, during which he expressed substantial support for Saudi leaders. And on June 5, 2017 the Gulf Crisis broke out when a handful of Arab states led by Saudi Arabia (the de facto leader of the GCC) abruptly severed diplomatic relations with the State of Qatar, expelled Qatar’s diplomats, recalled their ambassadors, and imposed a blockade on the country, despite Qatar being a fellow member of the GCC. It is clear that the Gulf Crisis revealed the fragility of the GCC and created a negative impact on existing diplomatic, economic and military relations between Turkey and the GCC.
The Gulf Crisis also shed light on the emerging defense relations between Turkey and Qatar and proved to Qatar how valuable its relationship with Turkey was. Turkey helped its ally to cope with the Saudi-led blockade and prevented a military escalation of the crisis, as both Riyadh and the UAE reportedly had plans to invade Qatar. On June 22, 2017, the Saudi-led group presented Qatar with 13 demands, including severing relations with the Muslim Brotherhood, scaling back relations with Iran, closure of Turkey’s permanent military base in Qatar, termination of military cooperation with Turkey inside Qatar, and paying reparations for its actions.
However, the State of Qatar refused to meet these demands and agreed with Turkey to increase the size of the Turkish military contingent in the country and to expand the Qatar-Turkey Combined Joint Force Command in Doha with naval and aerial components. On June 7, 2017 the Turkish Parliament (TBMM) ratified two deals on deploying troops in Qatar and training its gendarmerie forces. As part of the expansion plan construction of a new base near the Tariq Bin Ziyad military barracks was launched and completed in August 2019. Turkey also increased food exports to Qatar to replace those previously provided by Saudi Arabia. Qatar, as a small peninsular Gulf state, has struggled to maintain food supplies because of the imposed embargo on the country. According to reports soon after the imposition of the blockade, Turkey dispatched airlift (on June 22, 2017 the then Economy Minister Nihat ZEYBEKÇİ disclosed that 105 cargo planes from Turkey carried aid to Qatar) and naval expeditions and supplied Doha with approximately thousands of tons of food supplies. The sea route had been opened because air transport was insufficient to meet the needs of the population of the State of Qatar.
Turkey-Qatar Economic and Trade Relations
Economic relations between Turkey and Qatar witnessed substantial development in the 21st century. In line with Turkey’s deepening relations with Qatar, Turkey has become an important destination for Qatari tourists. The volume of Qatari capital investments in Turkey increasing steadily during last two decades. In the 2000s, the total trade volume between the two countries was just US$38 Million. By 2014, this figure had increased to US$739 Million and by the end of 2018, trade volume between the two countries increased by 57%, compared to 2017, and reached a level of US$1.4 Billion. According to Qatar Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali Bin Ahmed Al-KUWARI, the level of trade exchange between the two countries, which doubled by 78.8% to reach about QR 8.7 Billion in 2018, compared to QR 4.8 Billion in 2017, while Qatari exports to Turkey recorded growth of about 99% between 2017 and 2018, and Qatari imports from Turkey grew by about 64.9% during the same period. Qatar ranks first among the Gulf countries in terms of the number of projects undertaken by Turkish contractors.
Speaking to media in January 2020 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Yavuz Selim KIRAN disclosed that standing at US$6.4 Billion Qatar’s foreign direct investment in Turkey between 2005 and 2019 represents the 1.2% of Turkey’s cumulative foreign direct investment. Deputy Minister KIRAN also stressed that as of 2019 there were 170 companies with Qatar capital operating in Turkey. “Qatar is the 7th country where Turkish Contracting Industry companies undertake the most projects abroad. The total value of projects undertaken by Turkish companies in Qatar has reached US$18.3 Billion (many of them related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament). With the project price of US$1.2 Billion received in 2019, Qatar became the 2nd country with the highest number of jobs after Russia, with a share of 6.6%. Qatar expects to see many more Turkish companies setting up production facilities in Doha.
Speaking at the Qatari-Turkish Economic Forum held in November 2019 in Ankara, Qatar Minister of Commerce and Industry Al-KUWARI underlined that Turkish companies operating in Qatar play an important role in supporting the national economy, where more than 499 Qatari-Turkish joint ventures operate in the fields of trade, contracting and information technology, while the number of companies wholly owned by the Turkish side is 37, which are leading companies working in the fields of construction, and industry.
The volume of exports from Turkey to the State of Qatar has also been increasing steadily since 2002. According to Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM) figures, in 2019 Turkish exports to the State of Qatar rose to US$1.101 Billion from US$1.018,265 Billion (representing an 8.11% increase) in 2018. The volume of Turkey’s exports to Qatar was US$15 Million in 2002.
Military Cooperation Between Qatar & Turkey
The State of Qatar and Turkey currently maintain strong military ties. Several military cooperation agreements have been signed between the two countries during last decade, and Turkey steadily increase its military equipment exports to the State of Qatar. Turkey’s military involvement in Doha dates back to December 2014, when Head of the State of Qatar Tamim Bin Hamad Al-THANI paid an official visit to Turkey. During the visit on December 19, 2014 the two countries signed a comprehensive military cooperation agreement that allows for the deployment of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) in the State of Qatar and agreed to set up a bilateral cooperation and consultation group called the Turkey-Qatar High Strategic Committee, headed by the Qatari emir and Turkish President.
Since then the Committee has convened five times – in December 2015, December 2016, November 2017, November 2018, and November 2019 sometimes in Qatar and sometimes in Turkey – to sign framework agreements and memorandums of understanding in different spheres, including the military sphere, with the aim of deepening the collaboration and strengthening the ties between the countries. At the fourth meeting of the High Strategic Committee, held in Istanbul on November 26, 2018 and attended by the Turkish president and Qatari emir, the two countries signed, inter alia, memorandums of understanding on cooperation in the cyber field and the exchange of military delegations, alongside agreements on culture, economy, and trade. The Committee's fifth meeting was held in Doha on November 25, 2019 under the co-chairmanship of the Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-THANI and Turkish President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN and witnessed the signature of 7 agreements in various fields including economy, urbanization, trade, industry, technology, and standardization to boost bilateral relations.
Under an agreement signed on December 19, 2014 Turkey set up its first permanent military base at Tariq Bin Ziyad military barracks. The establishment of Turkey’s first permanent military base, which was named the Qatar-Turkey Combined Joint Force Command in December 2017, in Doha at Tariq Bin Ziyad military barracks, was completed in April 2016. Construction of Turkey’s second permanent base near the Tariq Bin Ziyad military barracks was completed in August 2019. The Qatar-Turkey Combined Joined Force Command’s new Headquarters was officially opened with a ceremony held on December 14, 2019 with the participation of Turkish Minister of National Defense (MoND) Hulusi AKAR, Chief of Turkish General Staff (TGS) General Yaşar GÜLER and Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Khalid Bin Mohamed Al-ATTIYAH. The new base was named after Khalid Bin Walid. The inauguration of the second Turkish permanent military base in Qatar further fortified the bilateral military and defense cooperation between the two nations. The new military base in Doha also reflects Turkey’s increasing involvement in the security of the State of Qatar and the Gulf region in general. However, Turkey’s increasing military presence in the region has created considerable discomfort among Qatar’s neighbors.
Since the eruption of Gulf Crisis in June 2017, cooperation between the Turkish and Qatari militaries has notably intensified through a number of high-level visits, joint training and war games. On June 19, 2017 Turkey-Qatar joint military exercise was carried out at the Tariq Bin Ziyad military barracks. On July 31, 2017, Turkish Gabya Class frigate TCG Gökova, carrying 214 sailors, arrived in Hamad Port for two days of naval exercises with the Qatari Navy. Conducted during August 1-8, 2017 as part of military cooperation agreements between Turkey and Qatar the joint naval exercise, codenamed “Iron Shield” included combat maritime maneuvers. In March 2018, Turkish forces participated in the Qatari Army's “Lion's Den Exercise”; in April 2018 forces from both countries participated the “Sahin 20” joint military exercise in the Gulf; in December 2018 they held the “Al-Khandaq” joint exercise in Turkey, and in February 2019 the Qatari forces participated in the Winter-2019 Exercise, an annual exercise held in the city of Kars in northeastern Turkey. In late April 2019 Qatar's Border Guard held a joint exercise with the Turkish forces in Qatar. Furthermore, in the same month the Turkish Air Force (TurAF) participated in the “FALCON-21 Exercise” with the Qatari Air Force. In June 2019, the Qatari Air Force participated in the 15-day Anatolian Eagle Exercise in Turkey. On March 8, 2020 the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced that the Qatar-Turkey Joint Military Exercise “Invincible Sentry 2020 (Al-Hares Al-Mane 2020)” hosted by Qatar has been kicked off with the participation of Turkish troops. According to a MoND announcement Turkey participates in the Exercise with two Commando Teams from the Qatar-Turkey Combined Joint Force Command, one Special Forces Team from Turkish Special Forces Command and one SAT (Underwater Offence) Team personnel from Turkish Naval Forces Command. Turkish troops also participate in the “Impregnable Guard 2020” military drill, which is organized by the Qatari Joint Special Forces in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), and the Amiri Guard. The “Impregnable Guard 2020” exercise commenced on March 8th and run through March 27, 2020 along with Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, the Sultanate of Oman and the US. The drill aims to prepare and train the participants to respond to any cross-border security threat.
In order to strengthen the existing cooperation and collaboration between the two-Armed Forces, frequent meetings took place over the years between the Defense Ministers and the Chiefs-of-Staff of the two countries since beginning of the Gulf Crisis. For instance, on November 4, 2017, Qatar Defense Minister Khalid Al-ATTIYAH met with his Turkish counterpart at the time, Nurettin CANİKLİ, to discuss strengthening of military and defense cooperation between the countries as well as the situation in the Gulf. On March 25, 2019 the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lieutenant General (Pilot) Ghanem Bin Shaheen Al-GHANIM met with the Chief of TGS General Yaşar GÜLER in Ankara, Turkey. During the meeting a number of issues of mutual interest were discussed, including means of enhancing and developing bilateral relations and cooperation in defense and military fields. General Al-GHANIM also met Turkish MoND Hulusi AKAR in the presence of General GÜLER and Qatari Ambassador to Turkey, Salem Bin Mubarak Al-SHAFI. During his stay in Ankara, Al-GHANIM also paid a visit to Commander of the Turkish Special Forces. In May 2019, Qatar Defense Minister Al-ATTIYAH met in Qatar with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi AKAR, and the two met again in August 2019, this time in Turkey. In September 2019 Qatari Defense Minister Al-ATTIYAH and the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt. Gen. (Pilot) Al-GHANIM met with the Chief of TGS General Yaşar GÜLER to discuss the military relationship between Turkey and Qatar. On November 6, 2019 at the Turkish Ministry of Defense the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt. Gen. (Pilot) Al-GHANIM met separately with Turkish MoND AKAR and Chief of TGS General GÜLER. During the meetings, they discussed aspects of joint military co-operation between the two sides. On November 29, 2019 the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Al-GHANIM met with the Commander of Turkish Special Forces, Major General Ömer Ertuğrul ERBAKAN, and his accompanying delegation in Doha, Qatar. The meeting discussed military topics of mutual interest. On December 13, 2019 accompanied by Chief of TGS General GÜLER, Turkish MoND AKAR visited Qatar. During the visit he met with the Libyan Government head to discuss the recent maritime deal between Turkey and Libya. He also attended the inauguration ceremony of the Qatar-Turkey Combined Joined Force Command’s new Headquarters in Doha. On December 23, 2019 a Qatari Navy delegation paid a visit to Turkish Naval Forces Command’s Yıldızlar Surface Training Center Command to get firsthand information on the Fire and Damage Control Training Simulator and the Bridge Combat Information Center Simulator Systems. On February 4, 2020 the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Al-GHANIM met with Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces (TNFC) Admiral Adnan ÖZBAL in Doha, Qatar. During the meeting, they reviewed the military relations between the two countries and means of enhancing and developing them. A number of senior officers of the Armed Forces also attended the meeting. On February 13, 2020 Commander of the Qatari Emiri Navy Major-General (Navy) Abdullah Bin Hassan Al-SULAITI received Commander of the TNFC Admiral Adnan ÖZBAL.
On February 19, 2020 the second Qatari-Turkish High-Level Military Dialogue Meeting concluded in Ankara. The delegation of the State of Qatar to the meeting was chaired by the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Al-GHANIM, while the Turkish side was chaired by Chief of TGS General GÜLER according to reports the meeting discussed a number of issues related to the military cooperation between the two countries and ways of promoting and enhancing them. On the sidelines of the meeting, Lt. Gen. Al-GHANIM also met with Turkish MoND AKAR. During the meeting, the two sides are said to have reviewed a number of issues related to military cooperation between the two brotherly countries and means of developing them.
Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry Export Figures
Starting in 2010 in an effort to increase defense cooperation with Islamic countries, Turkey turned its attention to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to export fast intervention boats, rockets/missiles, ammunition and armored vehicles. During recent years, leading Turkish companies such as Anadolu Shipyard, Aselsan, ARES Shipyard, Baykar Makina, BMC, FNSS, Havelsan, Meteksan Defense, Nurol Makina Sanayi (NMS), Otokar, Roketsan, TUSAS, TEI, Vestel Savunma and Yonca-Onuk JV have been quite active particularly in the Middle East and Gulf countries. Acting as partners not suppliers towards the Middle East and Gulf countries, Turkish defense sector companies have dramatically increased their exports and have started to sign high-value export contracts, thanks to the proactive foreign policy, aggressive marketing efforts and state-of-the-art, NATO-standard compliant and cost-effective products.
Emerging as a new arms exporter that can provide more efficient, low cost, combat proven, and less problematic products for arms buyers, the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry has managed to put 5 firms (Aselsan [52nd], TUSAŞ [69th], STM [85th], BMC [85th] and Roketsan [89th]) on the list of the world’s 100 largest defense companies in 2019. According to export figures revealed by the Defense and Aerospace Exporters’ Association (SSI) and the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM), the Turkish Defense and Aerospace Sector has increased exports by 34.6% during 2019 compared to 2018. According to figures Turkey has realized US$2,741 Billion worth of defense and aerospace exports to 164 countries around the globe in 2019. According to data released by TIM, the total weight of products exported by the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry during January 1st – December 31st of 2019 was around 44,315 tons. The annual turnover of the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry also rose to US$9 Billion in 2019. The exports of Turkish Defense and Aerospace Industry are expected to exceed US$3 Billion by the end of 2020.
According to data collected by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), during 2015-2019 with a share of 0.8% Turkey ranked 14th on the list of the 25 largest major arms exporters of the world. Turkey was the 25th largest exporter in 2011. Turkey notably increased its arms exports (specifically armored vehicles and naval vessels/boats) to the Middle East and Gulf countries, which are among the major markets for Turkish Defense & Aerospace Sector sales, during 2013 - 2019 and this trend is expected to last also in 2020. According to TIM’s figures during January 1st – December 31st of 2019, the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry has exported around US$710,145 Million (which was at around US$311,187 Million in 2018 and US$131,52 Million in 2017) worth of military equipment to the Middle East and Gulf countries. According to TIM’s data as of December 31st, 2019 the list of the top 15 countries that imported defense and aerospace products from Turkey is composed of; the US (US$816,623 Million), Oman (US$ 297,199 Million), Germany (US$256,868 Million), Qatar (US$186,168 Million), UAE (US$132,229 Million), Ukraine (US$119,237 Million), Azerbaijan (US$88,676 Million), the Netherlands (US$75,125 Million), the UK (US$60,604 Million), Bahrain (US$40,813 Million), India (US$40,630 Million), Pakistan (US$40,175 Million), Poland (US$33,675 Million), France (US$31,884 Million) and Italy (US$24,720 Million).
According to TIM figures, the total arms exports carried out by the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry soared by 5% during the first two months of 2020 and reached US$348,697 Million. With a total of US$62,187 Million in purchases the Middle East countries took a 17.8% share in Turkey’s arms exports during January 1 – February 29, 2020.
Exporting its defense products to 164 countries around the world Turkey is targeting to become a top six country in the world in terms of defense and aerospace exports. On December 4, 2019 the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), the procurement authority under the Turkish Presidency, issued the “Strategic Plan 2019-2023,” document, which states that the Turkish Defense and Aerospace Sector’s annual turnover will rise to US$26,9 Billion in 2023, from US$8,761 Billion in 2018. According to the “Strategic Plan 2019-2023,” document Turkey plans to boost its defense and aerospace (both military and commercial) exports to US$10.2 Billion by 2023, from US$2,188 Billion in 2018 and by 2023, the local content rate in defense and aerospace projects will reach to 75% up from 65% in 2018, according to the plan.
