ISTANBUL

Syria and Qatar held talks in Damascus on Saturday to discuss prospects for their cooperation in defense and military industries, Syrian state media reported.

Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra met with Qatar’s ambassador to Syria, Khalifa bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud Al Sharif, along with a delegation from Barzan Holdings, which specializes in defense and security fields, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said.

The meeting reviewed prospects for cooperation in defense and military industries, with a focus on developing military capabilities and benefiting from modern technologies, Syria’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The talks followed a phone call last week between Abu Qasra and his Qatari counterpart, Saoud bin Abdulrahman, during which they discussed issues of mutual interest as well as regional and international developments.

Last month, Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, where they reviewed regional and international issues of shared concern.