Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha on Thursday, as part of a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and addressing pressing regional issues.

The meeting, held at the Amiri Diwan, underscores the deepening strategic partnership between Türkiye and Qatar, with discussions focusing on key areas of cooperation and ongoing crises in Gaza and Syria.According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Fidan’s talks with the Qatari Emir centered on enhancing the robust relationship between Ankara and Doha, which has grown significantly through a strategic partnership established in 2014.

The discussions also prepared the ground for the 11th meeting of the Türkiye-Qatar High Strategic Committee, scheduled to take place later this year in Doha, co-chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Sheikh Tamim. The committee, a cornerstone of bilateral relations, has facilitated over 100 agreements across various sectors since its inception.

On August 13, Fidan met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, to discuss regional developments, particularly the escalating situation in Gaza. The talks emphasized Qatar’s mediation efforts alongside Egypt and the United States to secure a ceasefire and advance a two-state solution for Palestine. Fidan reiterated Türkiye’s support for these initiatives and expressed readiness to back constructive steps toward peace. The ministers also addressed joint efforts to promote stability in Syria, with Fidan emphasizing the need to counter actions that undermine Syrian security.

Sources indicate that Fidan’s meeting with the Qatari Emir included consultations on the upcoming Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, initiated by Türkiye as the current chair of the OIC Foreign Ministers Council. The discussions also covered the growing Türkiye-Qatar bilateral trade, which surpassed $1 billion in 2024, and explored new avenues for cooperation in trade, energy, and tourism.

The visit, Fidan’s third to Qatar in 2025, highlights the frequent high-level engagements between the two nations. Qatar’s Prime Minister visited Türkiye in June 2025 for the 51st OIC Foreign Ministers Council Meeting in Istanbul, further cementing the close diplomatic ties.

As the meeting in Doha continues, both sides are expected to reaffirm their commitment to addressing regional challenges and advancing their strategic partnership, with a focus on fostering peace and stability in the Middle East. (ILKHA)