Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s three-day tour of Qatar, Kuwait and Oman wrapped up on Thursday with the signing of more than a dozen agreements as Ankara moves to strengthen defense ties and diversify energy partnerships amid regional instability and the ongoing Ukraine war.

Erdogan’s visit began in Kuwait on Tuesday, where he met with Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The visit yielded four agreements on energy cooperation, maritime transport, mutual recognition of seafarer certificates, and direct investment promotion. In Qatar on Wednesday, Erdogan held talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, resulting in four deals ranging from defense industry cooperation to trade. The tour concluded in Oman, marking Erdogan’s first presidential visit there, where 16 agreements were signed covering defense, military cooperation, and critical minerals, alongside new mechanisms for investment, technology, and media collaboration, underscoring Ankara’s intent to deepen its Gulf presence.

Defense and energy cooperation have been important agenda items during the tour as Turkey is seeking to meet the needs of its ailing air force and reduce its energy dependence on Russia. 

Defense talks, Eurofighters