ZCZC
BFF-34
TURKEY-QATAR-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY
Turkey’s Erdogan in Qatar on first Arab trip since Syria offensive
DOHA, Nov 25, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
arrived in Qatar Monday on his first official trip to an Arab country since
Ankara’s forces intervened in northeast Syria last month against Kurdish
fighters.
Ankara and Doha have grown closer since Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with their former Gulf ally more than
two years ago.
The bitter rift came over accusations that Qatar supports extremist groups
and wants closer links with Iran, the arch-rival of regional powerhouse Saudi
Arabia.
However, Erdogan’s visit comes at a critical time amid signs of a possible
breakthrough in the crisis between Qatar and its neighbours — in what could
be pushing Ankara to further bolster its political and economic relations
with Doha.
Erdogan will attend the fifth meeting of the Qatar-Turkey Higher Strategic
Committee at the invitation of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the
Qatar News Agency reported.
The two countries are expected to sign a number of deals during Erdogan’s
third visit to Qatar since the Saudi-led blockade began in June 2017, which
led to rising Turkish influence in Doha.
Erdogan is also expected to visit a Turkish military base where around
5,000 troops are stationed amid reports that Qatar intends to buy 100 Turkish
tanks.
The burgeoning relationship saw Turkey’s military presence in Qatar
increase and Doha promised economic support to Ankara during last year’s
currency crisis.
Doha declared its support for Ankara after it launched an offensive on
October 9 against a Syrian Kurdish militia, but Arab countries including
Saudi Arabia have condemned Turkey’s “aggression”.
Qatar and Turkey have similar policies over Islamist groups, primarily the
Muslim Brotherhood.
Turkey’s relations with both Cairo and Riyadh are rocky at present, and
ties between the kingdom and Ankara worsened significantly after Washington
Post contributor and regime critic Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi
consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018.
However, the decision by football teams from the Saudi-led bloc to play at
a tournament in Qatar could herald a rapprochement.
The Saudi and UAE squads arrived in Qatar on Monday to compete in the
Arabian Gulf tournament in Doha from November 26, despite their two-year
boycott of Qatar.
Bahrain also said it would take part.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1730 hrs