Turkish Defense Minister rejects demand to shut base in Qatar

Turkish Defense Minister rejects demand to shut base in Qatar

Ankara rejected a call from four Arab states to shut down its military base in Qatar, the country's Defense Minister Fikri Isik said, noting that the base is a guarantor of security in the Gulf.

The minister told Turkish broadcaster NTV that he had not yet seen a request for the closure of the base, but made clear Ankara had no plans to review a 2014 agreement with Qatar which led to it being set up.

"If there is such a demand, it will mean interference in bilateral ties," Isik said, suggesting instead that Turkey might continue to bolster its presence in Qatar.

"The strengthening of the Turkish base would be a positive step in terms of the Gulf's security. Re-evaluating the base agreement with Qatar is not on our agenda," Reuters cited Isik as saying.

8665 views
We use cookies and collect personal data through Yandex.Metrica in order to provide you with the best possible experience on our website.