Hiiraan Online
3/29/2024
Today from Hiiraan Online:
Home
Somali Map
Sports
Opinion
RSS
Somali Music
Contact Us
Facebook
Twitter
Google Plus
advertisements
Turkey Seeks Bigger Military Role in Gulf Region
Turkish soldiers attend an army parade (Photo: AFP)
By Burak Ege Bekdil
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
advertisements
ANKARA, Turkey — Despite mounting problems and multiple cross-border threats in its south and southeast, Turkey is seeking a bigger military role in the Gulf region, preparing to set foot first in Qatar.
Turkey and Qatar, two Sunni regional allies, recently signed a comprehensive military accord that gives both countries the right to deploy soldiers in each other's territory.
Analysts say that clause would probably work in one direction.
"Qatari army is too small. Turkey's army is the second biggest in NATO. Given Turkey's regional ambitions it looks like the deployment clause means, on a de facto basis, Turkey could deploy soldiers in Qatar rather than the other way around," said one Ankara-based analyst.
The military agreement between Ankara and Doha also involves cooperation in military training, defense industry and joint military drills.
Berat Conkar, chairman of the Turkish parliament's foreign relations committee, said on March 5 that: "Turkey has a strategic view of its relations with the Gulf states. This agreement (with Qatar) will make sure Turkey gains strategic ground in an area we are already influential."
Conkar also said similar military cooperation agreements would follow with other Gulf countries.
Analysts often view Qatar as Turkey's best political ally in the Middle East.
Israeli foreign minister says disloyal Arabs should be beheaded
- Wpost
Abdi Hersy, Calgary Imam, Denies U.S. Sex Assault Allegations
- HuffPost
Drones strike Shabaab strongholds in Somalia
- World Bulletin
Remittances are lifelines between many immigrants and family members
- The Alley
International Women’s Day Event in Ottawa, Canada
- Fagaaraha
The true cost of media restrictions in Somalia
- IRIN
IMF Launches Somalia Trust Fund for Capacity Development
- IMF
AU, Somali troops seize district in southern Somalia
- HOL
Trudeau says Canadian PM sowing fear, prejudice against Muslims
- Ottawa Citizen
Courageous Woman Award
- PUC
Islamic financing steps up profile
- EABusiweek
Somalia's Shebab loses jihadist lustre
- AFP
Home
Email