Istanbul, Al Arabiya News, 19 December 2015 – In view of rising regional threats, Turkey seems to be diversifying its potential allies, especially on the military and energy fronts.
According to a decision announced Wednesday by Turkey’s ambassador to Qatar, Ankara will have its first Middle East military base in Qatar, with 3,000 troops to be stationed in the country.
The base will be supported by air and naval units, Special Forces and military trainers. Joint training exercises will be held at the base, and Qatar will be able to set up its own base in Turkey.
Qatar is home to the largest U.S. air base in the Middle East, where about 10,000 military personnel are placed. Currently, 100 Turkish troops are providing the Qatari army with military training.
This move is in line with a bilateral defense agreement – signed in 2014 and ratified by the Turkish parliament in June – with the aim of confronting “common enemies.”
The base and deepening bilateral partnership have strategic importance, particularly at such a critical time of rising instability and terrorism threats in the region.