Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is heading to Qatar to meet with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, his first overseas trip since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Al Jazeera reported
A statement by Turkey’s Communications Directorate on Thursday said the leaders of the two “brotherly and friendly” nations would exchange views on regional and international issues.
Among the Turkish delegation accompanying the president in his day-long visit are Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, Presidential Spokesman İbrahim Kalın and National Intelligence Organization Undersecretary Hakan Fidan.
Ankara and Doha have enjoyed strong relations, particularly since a crisis in the Gulf erupted on June 5, 2017, when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a blockade on Qatar and severed diplomatic relations.
The blockading countries stopped many vital exports to Qatar, including basic food supplies. To avoid potential food shortages, Turkey sent cargo planes full of essential food items to Qatar less than 48 hours of the start of the blockade.
In 2016, when hundreds of people were killed in a failed coup in Turkey, the Qatari emir was the first world leader to call Erdogan and express support for his government.
The two countries have also strengthened military ties, with Turkey maintaining a military base in Qatar since 2015 — and the two sides’ armies carrying out joint military drills in recent years.