Turkey plans to boost its troops’ presence in Qatar by deploying air and naval forces

Turkey has stood steadfastly with Qatar ever since the start of the illegal siege of Qatar.

Turkey had deployed its troops in Qatar and they are now planning to increase their presence by sending naval air force troops to the country as well, reported Al Jazeera. 

Turkish ambassador to Qatar Fikret Ozer said his country was planning to deploy air and naval forces to Qatar in addition to ground troops that are already stationed there. However, he did not give a specific timeline for the move.

“According to the agreement signed between Qatar and Turkey in 2014, all ground, air, and naval forces will be deployed to Qatar,” he told reporters in Doha. 

Ankara and Doha would determine the ‘timeline of the construction of the necessary infrastructure and when these forces will be deployed through talks,’ he was quoted as saying by Gulf Times.

The first batch of Turkish troops arrived at the Tariq Bin Ziyad military base in 2015. 

The camp, located south of Doha, is Turkey's first such installation in the Middle East and can accommodate up to 5,000 soldiers.

Ozer also declined to disclose the number of Turkish forces currently stationed in Qatar. 

“That information would be disclosed if our Qatari brothers agree to share that. We’re guests here. They’re the hosts,” he said.

Shortly after the diplomatic crisis erupted, Turkey’s parliament fast-tracked the Qatari-Turkish agreement in question along with another agreement that allows the Turkish military to train Qatari security forces.

Ankara has also been trying to mediate between the opposing sides to find a solution to the crisis.