Erdogan’s trip to Doha; Are relations between Türkiye and Bahrain strategic?

According to the international group Tasnim News Agency, the recent visit of the President of Turkey to Qatar, it was widely reflected in the media under the AKP and the media team of the Turkish presidential institution, left no stone unturned to cover the news of this trip and used exaggerated descriptions about the importance of Ankara-Doha relations. .

Erdogan is one of the politicians who goes on many foreign trips and the news coverage of these trips is routine and usual in the media, especially in the media close to Akparty or the ruling party. It has a normal routine.

But it can be clearly seen that the trip to Qatar was of special importance for Erdogan’s team. Because to cover the news of Erdogan’s trips and foreign visits, it is enough to publish a few photos and finally a video file. However, on the main website of the presidential institution, in two news reports with 4 video files and 60 photos, the details of Erdogan’s meeting with Qatari officials have been discussed.

A question arises: why is the relationship with Qatar so important for Erdogan? Has there been a strategic and stable relationship between Doha and Ankara, which can be decisively predicted and commented on its future path?

In this article, first, to some fields We will discuss the commercial and political cooperation between Turkey and Qatar, and then we will review the memorandums of understanding signed between the officials of the two countries.

Erdogan and praising the strength and organization of Qatar and Saudi Arabia

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was invited by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamed Al Second, the Emir of Qatar had gone to Doha, participated in the ninth meeting of the High Strategic Committee of Turkey and Qatar, visited the Expo and was a guest of the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting.

He went to Doha, the capital of Qatar, and in the presence of Al Thani signed 12 cooperation agreements in various fields and the joint statement of the 9th meeting of the High Strategic Committee.

Erdogan and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani After the face-to-face meeting behind closed doors, they attended the ninth meeting of the High Committee of Strategic Cooperation between Turkey and Qatar, and the signing ceremony of the two countries’ memorandums was held in the presence of ministers and related officials.

The President of Turkey, during his visit to the Qatar Expo, announced that in his opinion, the pavilions of Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are all 3 very orderly and important, and these 3 countries have many fields for cooperation and companionship.

Slight growth of goods exports from Turkey to Qatar

The total amount of goods exported from Turkey to Qatar in 2013 was 254 million dollars. Despite the passage of a long period, this figure did not undergo a high increase and at the end of 2022, it barely reached the amount of 1 billion 430 million dollars.

Turkey since 2017 Qatar has a military base in order to have a visible presence in the Persian Gulf. Turkey also sold 5 unmanned aerial vehicles to Qatar and asked Qatar to help in the case of Cyprus and to recognize the government called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”. But in order to maintain its good relations with America and Europe, Qatar has not accepted such a proposal. .com/Tasnim/Uploaded/Image/1402/09/15/1402091515474196228930164.jpg”/>

, “strategic friendship” and “stable relationship” are very important.

Erdogan has repeatedly criticized America’s positions and stated that America is a strategic ally from Turkey’s point of view and it should be done differently. to behave This is where Erdoğan’s critics come up with the theory that Erdoğan and his team’s perception of diplomatic relations is a world based on personal friendship and loyalty and not national interests and political games.

Turkey has also used the concept of a strategic friend many times in the case of Qatar, but the Qataris themselves are reluctant in this matter and prefer to maneuver only on economic and commercial cooperation.

The joint political-security projects of Turkey and Qatar in Syria and Libya did not achieve the desired and desired result of Ankara-Doha, and in the case of Afghanistan, the Qataris behaved in such a way as to show that despite the long-standing friendship with the Justice Party and the development of Turkey, ultimately have relations with the Taliban that are deeper and more meaningful than Erdogan’s team can manage.

12 documents full of diplomatic compliments Of course, their titles and explanations are general:

1. Agreement on signing the joint statement of the Republic of Turkey and the State of Qatar regarding the ninth meeting of the High Strategic Committee.

2. Memorandum of understanding to establish political consultations on issues of interest between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar.

3. Implementation of the third program 2024-2025 in the field cultural between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey and the Ministry of Culture of Qatar.

4. Understanding of cooperation in the field of work between the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the Republic of Turkey and the Ministry of Labor of Qatar.

p dir=”RTL”>5. Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of humanitarian aid and charity affairs between the General Directorate of Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of Interior of Turkey and the Organization for the Supervision of Charity Affairs in Qatar.

6. The cooperation protocol between the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Turkey and Lucille University of Qatar regarding the establishment of Turkish language training centers. 7. Military cooperation framework agreement.

8. Scientific cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey and Hamad Bin Khalifa University of the Government of Qatar.

9. Cooperation in the field of information and communication between the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology of Qatar. 10. Memorandum of Understanding on joint cooperation between the Ministry of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Turkey and the Ministry Property of the State of Qatar.

11. Memorandum of Understanding between the Investment Office of the President of Turkey and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the field of cooperation in the field of investment promotion.

12. Memorandum of Understanding between the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

A brief overview of the above shows that at least in the open and public sphere, Nothing new has happened in the field of Ankara-Doha relations development, and the parties have sought to show goodwill and firm will to maintain and develop relations, and there is no news of announcing a decision to implement concrete and detailed plans.

Perhaps one of the reasons for this is that in the last 3 years and at the same time as inflation increased and the economic crisis in Turkey became complicated, the Qatari authorities as far as it was economically reasonable and affordable for them Yes, they have invested in Turkey, and at least in the current situation, there is not much scope for capital increase.

Another important reason for Qataris’ doubts about large investments It is a historical fact in Turkey that Doha’s attitude towards economics and capital growth and the business and business climate is identical and completely similar to the attitude of Westerners.

This means that from the point of view of large Qatari companies, there should always be two important justifications for increasing investment in a country:

1. Guaranteeing profit based on norms and The standards available in the world market. 2. Ensuring safe legal conditions for capital preservation and its return. Based on both of the above criteria, It can be easily seen that in the current situation, in addition to the Qataris, many Emiratis and Saudis are also looking for more investment in the markets of Europe, America, East Asia and even Africa, and as a result, they expect a lot of profit from the Turkish market. they do not have, and the conditions governing the judiciary and political tensions in Turkey, as well as the financial risks and dangers governing the Turkish housing market, make Arab businessmen and capitalists doubt.

At the end It should be said, despite some important economic and commercial dimensions in the development of Ankara-Doha relations, the important factor in welding this relationship is the type of attitude and political approach of Erdogan’s government and Al Thani’s team to regional and world developments.

This is despite the fact that the broad front of political parties and currents against Erdoğan do not agree with the approach of the region or Qatar, so it can be said clearly that the fate of the development of Ankara-Doha relations is directly related to the fate of the party. It has justice and development, and if the opposition comes to power in the coming years, this relationship will be reviewed by the Ankara authorities.

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