ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Turkey and Qatar on Friday inked a mutual defense agreement in Istanbul, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailing the accord as adding a "new dimension" to bilateral relations between the two countries.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was received by Erdogan at the Dolmabahce Presidential Palace in Istanbul, where the two leaders "discussed bilateral relations between Turkey and Qatar, as well as regional and global developments," according to a statement issued by Turkey's communications directorate.

"During the meeting, President Erdogan stated that the Mutual Defence Agreement signed by Turkey and Qatar today would add a new dimension to the brotherly ties between the two countries."

The signing of the agreement had not been independently announced, and marks another move from Ankara to bolster its security relationship with Gulf states through its highly-regarded defense industry and extensive military capabilities.

In early August, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed a high-profile mutual defense accord termed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, which asserts that any attack against one of the signatory states "shall be regarded as an attack against them all."

Since that juncture, both Ankara and Islamabad have deployed troops to Saudi Arabia amid Riyadh's ongoing military conflict with Yemen's Houthi rebels, though both have stressed that the nature of their military role is purely defensive and does not entail participation in combat operations in Yemen.

Qatari state media noted that, in addition to the defense agreement, several other bilateral accords and memoranda of understanding were signed in Istanbul on Friday across the domains of consumer protection, market monitoring, education, and cooperation in peacebuilding, reconciliation, and conflict resolution.

Doha came under repeated Iranian bombardment during the US-Israeli war on Iran on account of its hosting of the largest US military base in the Middle East, with the Qatari government noting that multiple civilians were wounded in the strikes and that damage was caused to the country's energy infrastructure.

In September 2025, Israel bombed a meeting of Hamas officials in Doha, resulting in the death of a member of the Qatari security forces.

"President Erdogan noted that Turkey and Qatar would continue their joint efforts to prevent the resumption of hostilities in the Gulf region, pave the way for dialogue and establish peace," the Turkish communications directorate added.

Doha has served as a key mediator between the US and Iran in drawn-out efforts to secure a peace deal.