Qatar and Türkiye have signed a Mutual Defence Agreement.
The deal was signed on Friday in Istanbul, Türkiye, amid tensions in the Gulf region.
A mutual defence agreement is a pact in which two countries agree to work together on defence.
Qatar's Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan formalised the pact.
They did this during the 12th session of the Supreme Strategic Committee meeting.
The signing took place at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul.
Sheikh Tamim said the two countries want to build on what they have already achieved.
Key points
- Qatar and Türkiye signed a Mutual Defence Agreement on Friday in Istanbul.
- The leaders also discussed how to prevent a return of fighting in the Gulf.
- Several other agreements on education, consumer protection and peace were also signed.
- The pact comes after Türkiye signed a regional defence deal with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in August.
So what else was agreed during the meeting?
The two countries also exchanged other agreements and memoranda of understanding.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) is a written agreement to work together on a specific area.
These cover consumer protection and market surveillance, education, and peace, reconciliation and conflict resolution.
A joint communiqué of the 12th session was also exchanged.
Erdoğan also spoke about trade.
He said a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into force last year, has brought the two countries closer to their trade target.
He added that energy cooperation and the defence industry will keep growing.
What did the two sides say about tensions in the Gulf?
The leaders also spoke about the wider Gulf region. Erdoğan stressed the need to prevent a resumption of hostilities there.
He called for dialogue and peace.
He also urged the parties concerned to resolve their differences through diplomatic means.
The leaders discussed Israel's attacks on Gaza and the humanitarian situation there too.
They also talked about steps towards normalisation in Syria and the latest developments in Libya.
So how does this fit with other defence deals?
In August, Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a joint defence agreement in Makkah.
Türkiye's parliament ratified that Makkah deal last week.
The ratification clears the way for Ankara to give military support to Saudi Arabia.
- Last yearTrade and Economic Partnership Agreement came into force, bringing the two countries closer to their trade target.
- AugustTürkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a joint defence agreement in Makkah.
- Last weekTürkiye's parliament ratified the Makkah deal, clearing the way for military support to Saudi Arabia.
- FridayQatar and Türkiye signed a Mutual Defence Agreement in Istanbul during the 12th Supreme Strategic Committee session.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
Saudi Arabia has been facing attacks by Houthi militants from Yemen.
So why does this matter for India? The Gulf region is important to India for trade and energy.
Changes in defence ties there can shape the wider region.
The sources do not give details of how the Qatar pact will work in practice.
