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Thursday 17 Dec 2015 - 18:48 Makkah mean time-6-3-1437
Doha, (IINA) - Turkey’s ambassador to Qatar announced on Wednesday the establishment of a Turkish military base in Qatar as part of a defense agreement aimed at helping the two countries confront common enemies, Reuters reported.
The envoy, Ahmet Demirok, told Reuters that 3,000 ground troops, air and naval units, military trainers and special operations forces would be stationed at the base, which is Turkey’s first overseas military installation in the Middle East. He added that the multipurpose base would primarily serve as a venue for joint training exercises. The agreement also grants Qatar the option of setting up its own base in Turkey.
“Turkey and Qatar face common problems and we are both very concerned about developments in the region and uncertain policies of other countries ... We confront common enemies. At this critical time for the Middle East cooperation between us is vital”, Demirok said.
Qatar is home to the largest US air base in the Middle East, Al-Udeid, where around 10,000 military personnel are stationed.
“Today we are not building a new alliance but rather rediscovering historic and brotherly ties”, Demirok said, referring to the Muslim Ottoman Empire, which stretched from eastern Europe to the Arab Gulf before its collapse in 1920.
“With the perceived disengagement by the United States from the Gulf, what we are witnessing now is a diversification of potential allies”, said Jean-Marc Rickli, a professor at King’s College London teaching at Qatar National Defense College.
“If you are a small state like Qatar you have an interest in hosting several allies on your territory because it provides you with an indirect security guarantee from your ally. Moreover, it increases the costs for the aggressor of any potential attack” He added.
Demirok said that 100 Turkish troops were currently in Qatar training the Gulf state’s military. He did not say when the new Turkish base would be completed.
AG/IINA
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