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The 11th session of the Supreme Strategic Committee between Qatar and Turkiye was held on Oct 22, 2025 in Doha, under the chairmanship of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with participation of the ministers responsible for the areas of co-operation stated in the Joint Accord on the Establishment of the Supreme Strategic Committee dated Dec 19, 2014.The session, held in a spirit of co-operation and brotherhood, reflected once again strong historical bonds, distinguished relations and the common understanding between the two countries as well as the willingness to further enhance their partnership in all fields.The two sides commended the success of the Supreme Strategic Committee as the highest institutional mechanism of co-operation between Qatar and Turkiye and its contributions to the achievement of exceptional relations between two countries. The two sides look forward to holding the first meeting of political consultations between them at a date to be agreed upon during the year 2026.The committee reviewed the progress in areas of co-operation referred to in the outcome documents of the 10th session and expressed their satisfaction with the level of ongoing co-operation.Both sides expressed their satisfaction with over 100 documents of co-operation signed in the framework of the previous 10 sessions. Here are excerpts from the discussion on many areas:Trade, Finance, Investment and EnergyTaking into account the potential of the two countries' economies and reiterating their goal to reach $5bn trade volume in near future; the two sides agreed to explore new opportunities to expand and diversify trade and economic relations.Culture and EducationThe two sides affirmed their desire to strengthen co-operation and exchange experiences in cultural fields at the bilateral level within the framework of relative international organisations. Qatar and Turkiye agreed to activate cultural, artistic and folkloric activities and events that reflect the rich culture and history of the two countries, and expand the horizon of cultural harmony between the peoples of the two sisterly countries.Media and CommunicationsThe two sides underlined their readiness to further develop cooperation in public diplomacy, media, communications and broadcasting between the two countries on the basis of mutual benefit. Furthermore, they emphasised their desire to exchange information and experience; as well as sharing of best practices. They also called for convening meetings, seminars, workshops, trainings and conferences so as to promote the exchange of visits between officials and experts in the aforementioned areas.Public HealthThe two sides affirmed their readiness to strengthen co-operation in the health sector by activating the executive program and memorandums of understanding signed between the two countries through the establishment of a joint working group or committee. They also expressed their satisfaction with the co-operation and solidarity in the field of health and in supporting the Palestinian people in the context of the Gaza crisis.Youth and SportsThe two sides expressed their readiness to co-operate in the fields of youth and sports. The Implementation Programme between the governments of Turkiye and Qatar in the fields of youth and sports for the years (2025-2026), constitutes a concrete legal framework for strengthening cooperation in this field.Labour and EmploymentBoth sides expressed their satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation and coordination in the areas of work and employment, affirming their mutual keenness to strengthen and develop this co-operation in a manner that serves the shared interests of both parties.DefenceThe two sides emphasized the importance of further strengthening bilateral co-operation in the area of defence, and expressed their strong will and determination to explore new opportunities in this field. The two countries agreed on developing future co-operation activities through implementing military programmes and initiatives, including joint exercises, training programmes, co-operation in the fields of armament and logistics support, and the follow-up of the progress and implementation of bilateral agreements.Research and InnovationThe two sides expressed their satisfaction with the level of cooperation in the field of science and technology development. Building upon existing frameworks of co-operation established during the 10th meeting of the Supreme Strategic Committee, the two sides aspire to continue working on developing key technologies together and upgrade their production capabilities with integrated production solutions.SecurityBoth sides expressed their will to increase their co-operation in the field of law enforcement training, security and required fields in accordance with the agreement of "Security Co-operation Protocol in Education and Training” signed on 2 December, 2015, and "Agreement of Security Cooperation” signed on 25 December, 2001. Furthermore, the two countries will jointly organise meetings for the purpose of exchanging knowledge, supporting training programmes and projects.Development, Humanitarian and ReliefThe Turkish side, as the host of the Fourth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC4) in 2011, commended all efforts made by Qatar in hosting the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), which was held in Doha from March 5-9, 2023, and its financial contribution amounting to $60mn, of which $10mn is allocated to support the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action and $50mn to help build resilience in LDC countries. The conference provided a valuable opportunity to discuss and build effective plans and partnerships that would help the least developed countries overcome the challenges they face, meet their needs and priorities, support its efforts in realizing the right to development, and achieving sustainable development goals over the next decade.Qatar and Turkiye, as co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of the LDCs at the UN, renewed their continuous support to the sustainable development efforts of the LDCs.Environment and Climate ChangeThe two sides recognised the critical importance of addressing environmental challenges and combating climate change, prioritising these issues in their national policies. Both sides expressed their will to enhance their co-operation to preserve the environment and to combat climate change especially on a bilateral basis as well as on international platforms, without affecting the rights and obligations from conventions any side is a party of.Regional and International IssuesThe two sides expressed their satisfaction with the high-level dialogue, co-operation and co-ordination on regional and international issues.The two sides expressed mutual appreciation for each country's active mediation efforts in promoting peace and fostering reconciliation in some of the world's persistent and complex conflicts, as well as their effective leadership in other initiatives aimed at achieving these objectives.Qatar and Turkiye looked forward to the international community playing its role in creating the best possible conditions for the return of displaced persons to their lands and in preparing to launch the reconstruction process of Gaza, particularly in light of Egypt's intention to host an international conference on early recovery and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.The two sides reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to supporting the independence of the State of Palestine along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in a manner that ensures a just, comprehensive, and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution.Both sides renewed their strong condemnation of Israel's violation of the sovereignty of Qatar through its treacherous attack that targeted a meeting of the Hamas negotiating delegation at the residence of one of its members, located in a residential neighborhood that includes schools and diplomatic missions.Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, Qatar and Turkiye stressed the need to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and called for dialogue as the means to resolve the crisis.Qatar and Turkiye agreed to hold the 12th session of the Supreme Strategic Committee in Turkiye, in 2026, on a date to be determined through diplomatic channels.President Erdogan expressed his profound appreciation to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for the sincere welcome and generous hospitality extended to him and his delegation during their stay in Qatar.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani stressed that the historical relations and exemplary cooperation between Qatar and Turkiye are steadily progressing toward broader and promising horizons, in light of the significant achievements of the Supreme Strategic Committee between the two countries.In a post on his official X account, His Highness the Amir said that the historical relations and exemplary cooperation between Qatar and Turkiye are progressing toward broader and promising horizons, in light of the significant achievements of the Supreme Strategic Committee between the two fraternal countries. His Highness expressed his pleasure in meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Doha, where they co-chaired the committee's eleventh session.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan co-chaired Wednesday the 11th meeting of the Qatari-Turkish Supreme Strategic Committee at the Amiri Diwan. At the outset of the meeting, His Highness the Amir welcomed the Turkish president and his accompanying delegation, wishing them a pleasant stay in Qatar and wishing the strategic relations between the two countries continued development and growth across all areas of partnership to achieve the interests of the two fraternal peoples. He pointed out that the 11th meeting of the Supreme Strategic Committee reflects the strength of the relationship between the two countries, stressing his keenness to strengthen and develop relations to broader horizons. **media[372048]** For his part, the president of Turkiye voiced his thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Amir for the warm welcome and generous hospitality, noting that bilateral relations between the two countries are witnessing remarkable development in various fields, and looking forward to strengthening them to achieve the supreme interests of the two fraternal peoples. During the meeting, they discussed strategic cooperation relations and ways to enhance and develop them across several areas, especially in defence, trade, investment, energy, and information technology. **media[372045]** They also discussed key regional and international issues and developments, as well as the current situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly those related to consolidating the ceasefire, supporting peace, and the flow of humanitarian aid to the Strip. HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, HE Chief of the Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Khulaifi, along with a number of ministers and senior offcials attended the meeting. **media[372534]** On Turkiye's side, the meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, along with a number of members of the official delegation accompanying the president. Earlier, His Highness the Amir and the president of Turkiye held a bilateral meeting, where they exchanged views on a number of topics and issues of common concern. **media[372532]** His Highness the Amir held a luncheon banquet in honour of the president of Turkiye and his accompanying delegation. President Erdogan was accorded an official reception ceremony upon arrival to the Amiri Diwan.

President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Doha on Monday to participate in the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit.President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al-Thani and Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye to the State of Qatar Dr. Mustafa Goksu.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, met Sunday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye, Hakan Fidan, on the sidelines of the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, scheduled for Moonday in Doha.They discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation relations between the two countries, as well as developments in the region - particularly the treacherous Israeli attack that targeted Doha.HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the State of Qatar will take all necessary measures to safeguard its security and uphold its sovereignty in response to the blatant Israeli attack.For his part, the Turkish Foreign Minister reiterated his country's solidarity with the State of Qatar, strongly condemned the Israeli attack, and categorically rejected any aggression that threatens the security and safety of the State of Qatar, as well as the stability of the region.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, discussed Saturday via phone the Israeli aggression against Qatar, which they condemned as a violation of international law and an escalation that will only increase tensions and conflict in the region. The two ministers stressed their full solidarity with Qatar, affirming its security, stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its citizens.Al-Safadi and Fidan also emphasized the importance of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit to be hosted by Qatar on Monday, which aims to create a unified Arab and Islamic stance against the ongoing Israeli aggression that threatens regional security and stability.During the call, the ministers also discussed the latest developments in the region.They reaffirmed the need for coordinated efforts to halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza immediately, to reach a prisoner exchange agreement, and to ensure the immediate and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which is suffering from an unprecedented humanitarian disaster exacerbated by the ongoing aggression.

Turkiye has strongly condemned an Israeli airstrike on a residential compound in Doha that targeted members of Hamas' negotiating delegation involved in ongoing ceasefire talks over Gaza.In a statement released Tuesday, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the timing of the attack, saying it reveals Israel's true intentions to prolong the war rather than pursue peace.The ministry warned that the strike, which occurred in Qatar-a key mediator in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations-signals an expansion of Israeli aggression to other countries in the region. It described the incident as part of Israel's broader expansionist agenda and accused it of institutionalizing state terrorism. Turkiye expressed solidarity with Qatar, calling the attack a despicable violation of its sovereignty and national security. Ankara urged the international community to take action to halt Israel's continued military operations in Gaza and across the region.

Turkiye trimmed its forecasts for gross domestic product, signalling the government is prioritising price stability over rapid growth.The government’s new Medium-Term Program unveiled late Sunday sees the economy expanding 3.3% this year and 3.8% next, down from previous projections of 4% and 4.5%.The estimate for next year is above the 3.5% median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists but remains well below Turkiye’s average pace of about 5% over the past two decades. That suggests the finance ministry’s focus is on lowering inflation, which is running at over six times the official target of 5%.Authorities will gradually increase the potential for growth through structural transformation while bringing inflation down to single-digit levels, Vice-President Cevdet Yilmaz said in a press conference as he presented the program.Turkiye has sustained GDP increases “without creating inflationary pressures,” he added, noting that growth has been below potential, keeping the economy from overheating.The cautious approach will likely require a gradual easing of monetary conditions by the nation’s central bank, which resumed cutting interest rates in July. Inflation is projected to finish the year at 28.5%, slowing to 16% in 2026, a sharp revision from last year’s estimates. The central bank’s August guidance estimated end-2025 inflation at a range of 25%-29%.Containing inflation without pushing the $1.4tn economy into a recession has proved to be a challenging task for Turkiye. Businesses complain that higher borrowing costs have eaten into their profits, while households still expect inflation to remain at elevated levels and continue to spend at a higher pace than expected.Turkiye’s national income is projected to exceed $1.5tn by the end of 2025 for the first time, with per-capita income rising above $17,000.The government also raised its estimated budget deficit, expecting the shortfall to be 3.6% of GDP, half of a percentage point higher than its previous projection. Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek has introduced new taxes on households and businesses to keep up with higher spending, which is partly driven by a massive reconstruction campaign in the country’s southeast after two devastating earthquakes in early 2023.Simsek said the total spending in provinces affected by 2023 earthquakes was $90bn.

Turkiye’s central bank Governor Fatih Karahan struck an optimistic note on the inflation outlook following worse-than-expected data and market turmoil, suggesting investors may have been too hasty in reducing their forecasts for interest-rate cuts.An unexpected court order against the main opposition party on Tuesday which triggered a broad selloff in Turkish assets was followed by the release of higher-than-expected August inflation data the next morning. The combination had Wall Street banks swiftly redrawing their predictions for a new rate-cutting cycle, anticipating a less severe reduction when policymakers meet on September 11.But in an interview with Bloomberg News on Thursday, Karahan said the breakdown of August’s inflation numbers and second-quarter growth showed that demand-driven price pressures are easing.“Though headline GDP growth was higher than forecasts, the components of the GDP data showed that demand conditions continue to support disinflation,” he said in Istanbul. While overall quarterly growth was an above-forecast 1.6%, Karahan highlighted that private consumption has come in negative for two consecutive quarters.Similarly, while August inflation which slowed to 33% from 33.5% the prior month was above expectations, Karahan emphasised the main indicators of the underlying trend offered “a healthier assessment.” Those show that price rises are continuing to ease, he said, while adding that the central bank is keeping a close eye on the impact of increases in rent and education on inflation expectations.The BIST-100 Index and banking stocks were slightly up on Friday morning at 10.22am. The lira was trading 0.2% lower against the US dollar at 41.25.The central bank reduced rates by more than anticipated in July, to 43% from 46%, the first cut in four months, and signalled at the time that more was to come.But a court order to remove the Istanbul administration of Turkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, unnerved investors. That ruling which precedes a number of other legal decisions related to the opposition coincided with the disappointing economic reports, causing Wall Street banks to predict a slower pace of interest-rate cuts.Asked whether the central bank’s views on inflation are influenced by the overall uncertainty, Karahan said: “We haven’t allowed for the deterioration of inflation expectations nor for demand to disrupt disinflation and we won’t allow it.” “We want to preserve the gains we’ve made in reserves, the current-account balance and other important areas like dollarisation,” he added.The central bank last month fine-tuned its guidance for inflation, maintaining a year-end target of 24% while at the same time issuing a projection of where it anticipates the figure to ultimately end up.That’s likely to be in the range of 25% to 29%, the bank said.The official targets will be used to “determine the tightness of monetary policy in the current and near-term period,” Karahan said.“Because monetary mechanism takes some time, in the short run estimates could diverge from the interim targets,” he said. “There might be times when monetary policy can’t immediately react. For example, these could include factors that fall outside the relative sphere of influence of monetary policy, developments that have emerged very recently relative to the control horizon, and situations where the impact on the inflation outlook is uncertain.”

Turkiye’s economic growth remained resilient in the second quarter despite an emergency interest-rate hike by the central bank in March.Gross domestic product expanded 1.6% on a quarterly basis, up from a revised 0.7% in the preceding three-month period when adjusted for seasonality and working days, Turkiye’s statistics office said on Monday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists projected an expansion of 0.6%.The economy grew 4.8% annually, compared with the median estimate of 4.1% in the survey and a revised 2.3% in the preceding quarter. The acceleration was largely down to the higher number of working days Turkiye had this year compared to 2024, QNB Turkiye economists led by Erkin Isik said in a research note ahead of the data release.The surprise boost came after the Turkish central bank raised interest rates in an unscheduled meeting in March to mitigate the market fallout following the jailing of a prominent opposition politician, reversing a cycle of rate cuts it had just begun. Even so, domestic demand climbed at the fastest pace in more than a year, leading the surge in annual growth. The central bank resumed its cuts in July, lowering the main policy rate to 43% from 46%.Spending by households, which is the main driver of Turkiye’s economy, rose 5.1%, the highest rate since the first quarter of 2024, Turkstat said.“On the surface, Turkiye’s especially strong growth data for the second quarter could be seen as reason to derail the central bank’s easing path. But activity is likely to post slower gains ahead and we maintain our call for rate cuts at all remaining meetings this year amid falling inflation,” says Selva Bahar Baziki, economist, Bloomberg Economics.“Today’s figures provide worrying evidence that domestic demand is too strong, which may prevent the current account deficit from narrowing further and inflation from falling as quickly as policymakers want,” Capital Economics’ chief emerging markets economist William Jackson said in a note. Though August inflation figures, which will be released on Wednesday, will give a better sense of that, Monday’s GDP report suggests the central bank “will not lower interest rates as quickly as we currently expect,” he said. Jackson currently sees the main policy rate reduced to 37% at the end of the year.Gross fixed capital formation, a measure of investments by businesses, soared by nearly 9% in the second quarter from a year earlier, while exports of goods and services increased by 1.7% from a year earlier, and up from 0.1% the prior quarter.The lira was little changed after the data release, trading 0.1% higher at 41.1182 per the US dollar at 10.57am in Istanbul.Monday’s release marks the first time Turkstat published revised growth data, which the agency said was carried out for better compliance with international peers.

Turkiye’s economic growth remained resilient in the second quarter despite an emergency interest-rate hike by the central bank in March.Gross domestic product expanded 1.6% on a quarterly basis, up from a revised 0.7% in the preceding three-month period when adjusted for seasonality and working days, Turkiye’s statistics office said on Monday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists projected an expansion of 0.6%.The economy grew 4.8% annually, compared with the median estimate of 4.1% in the survey and a revised 2.3% in the preceding quarter. The acceleration was largely down to the higher number of working days Turkiye had this year compared to 2024, QNB Turkiye economists led by Erkin Isik said in a research note ahead of the data release.The surprise boost came after the Turkish central bank raised interest rates in an unscheduled meeting in March to mitigate the market fallout following the jailing of a prominent opposition politician, reversing a cycle of rate cuts it had just begun. Even so, domestic demand climbed at the fastest pace in more than a year, leading the surge in annual growth. The central bank resumed its cuts in July, lowering the main policy rate to 43% from 46%.Spending by households, which is the main driver of Turkiye’s economy, rose 5.1%, the highest rate since the first quarter of 2024, Turkstat said.“On the surface, Turkiye’s especially strong growth data for the second quarter could be seen as reason to derail the central bank’s easing path. But activity is likely to post slower gains ahead and we maintain our call for rate cuts at all remaining meetings this year amid falling inflation,” says Selva Bahar Baziki, economist, Bloomberg Economics.“Today’s figures provide worrying evidence that domestic demand is too strong, which may prevent the current account deficit from narrowing further and inflation from falling as quickly as policymakers want,” Capital Economics’ chief emerging markets economist William Jackson said in a note. Though August inflation figures, which will be released on Wednesday, will give a better sense of that, Monday’s GDP report suggests the central bank “will not lower interest rates as quickly as we currently expect,” he said. Jackson currently sees the main policy rate reduced to 37% at the end of the year.Gross fixed capital formation, a measure of investments by businesses, soared by nearly 9% in the second quarter from a year earlier, while exports of goods and services increased by 1.7% from a year earlier, and up from 0.1% the prior quarter.The lira was little changed after the data release, trading 0.1% higher at 41.1182 per the US dollar at 10.57am in Istanbul.Monday’s release marks the first time Turkstat published revised growth data, which the agency said was carried out for better compliance with international peers.

Qatar residents and visitors have a final opportunity to immerse themselves in a captivating exploration of personal and collective memories at the “Printed Nostalgia” exhibition on view at Fire Station: Artists in Residence until September 1. The exhibition, curated by Saida Alkhulaifi and Fatima AlZaini, takes visitors on a journey through the evocative power of printed works at Gallery 4 of Fire Station. “Printed Nostalgia” showcases a diverse range of artistic perspectives, with contributing artists hailing from Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Morocco, Sudan, the US, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Kenya, Yemen, Tunisia, Jordan, Iran, and Syria, among other countries. Through their prints, Qatar Museums (QM) noted that these artists dig deeper into themes of architecture, culture, migration, and the fabric of everyday life, creating a poignant space where emotions, identities, and histories converge. Each piece serves as a fragment of time, carefully preserved, shared, and reimagined for audiences to contemplate. Among the featured artists contributing their unique visions are Mubarak al-Thani (Qatar), Syeda Hiba Zehra (Pakistan), Jaili Hajo (Sudan), Ali Gad (Egypt), Meara Albast (US), Nuwair al-Hajeri (UAE), Rasha Yousif (Bahrain), Aleesha Suleman (Kenya), and Asli Gokce Musekura (Turkiye), alongside a host of other international talents. According to the QM, this show offers a distinct artistic experience for all who seek to understand the deep connections between art, memory, and the fundamental aspects of the human condition. It artfully blends various mediums, including digital illustration, photography, painting, collage, and written word, successfully transforming digital expressions into tangible, physical forms. The exhibition culminates in a specially designed cozy and reflective room, providing a quiet sanctuary for visitors to pause and reconnect with their own personal memories. This thoughtfully curated space honours the enduring and tangible power of remembrance, echoing the historical role of printed materials in preserving people’s stories. The artwork on display were carefully selected through an international open call that garnered 322 submissions from across the globe. From this extensive pool, 98 artists – whose works collectively represent a rich collection of voices and interpretations of nostalgia – were chosen. The Fire Station plays a crucial role in nurturing artistic talent by supporting artists and curators at all career stages. Through its comprehensive residency programmes, it provides vital working studio space, fosters creative exchange, and offers cultural enrichment both within Qatar and internationally through its Paris and New York residency programmes.