06 November 2017•Update: 06 November 2017
DOHA, Qatar
Turkey’s national defense minister used a visit to Qatar on Monday to call for a strong alliance to ward off threats to regional states’ territorial integrity.
Nurettin Canikli visited and inspected Qatari and Turkish forces on Monday as part of a three-day official visit to the Gulf country.
In his address to Turkish and Qatari troops, Canikli said: “Recently, there have been some elements of risk threatening our territorial integrity and independence in this region.
“Threats have constantly increased in size. Turkey, right now, is in with the three bloodiest terror groups in the world at once,” -- a reference to the PKK, Daesh and the Terrorist Organization (FETO).
“Maps and borders of countries are being reshaped, especially in the Middle East and the Gulf area,” he said.
Canikli also said “global forces” had launched a number of operations against Turkey and its neighboring countries.
“We should work in coordination with the countries targeted to resist to these projects,” he added.
A first Turkey-Qatar joint military exercise was conducted on June 19 at Qatar’s Tariq bin Ziyad military base as part of cooperation agreements allowing Ankara to deploy troops to train Qatar’s gendarmerie.
These agreements are intended to improve Qatar’s defense capabilities and support the country’s efforts to combat terrorism and contribute to regional security.
The joint exercises come against the backdrop of a two-month embargo on Qatar imposed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
On Sunday, Canikli and Qatari Minister of State for Defense Khalid bin Mohammad al-Attiyah attended an inauguration ceremony of the AW 139 Helicopter Simulation Flight Training Facility.
Canikli said Turkey had advanced in the defense sector, especially drone technology.
Reporting by Sarp by Ahmet Sait Akcay
