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Soldiers from Turkey have already been sent to Qatar to serve on Turkey’s first military base in the Gulf, Reuters reports.
The establishment of the base was announced in December following a visit from Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdogan to Qatar.
This week, speaking at Qatar University, Turkey’s Prime Minister Dr. Ahmet Davutoğlu told students that he has met with Turkish officers here.
Qatar University
Turkish PM Dr. Ahmet Davutoğlu
However, it is unclear if these troops are stationed on the new base.
Last month, Turkey’s defense minister said construction of the Qatar base would take about two years to complete.
And last year, the Turkish ambassador to Doha told Reuters that about 100 soldiers from Turkey have been training with Qatar’s military.
Threats
The exact location of the base has not been released.
According to Reuters, Davutoğlu told QU students the presence of Turkish troops in Qatar was to help provide security:
“I can tell you now that the security and stability of Qatar is like the security and stability of Turkey. We want a stable and secure Gulf. Turkey and Qatar, we have the same destiny. We face the same threats.”
Eventually, Turkey’s military base here will house some 3,000 ground troops, as well as air and naval units, military trainers and special operations forces, Reuters previously reported.
Qatar is already host to the US’s largest air base in the region, with some 10,000 troops and staff stationed in Al Udeid.
Thoughts?
(The post Reuters: Turkish soldiers deployed to serve in Qatar is from Doha News.)