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Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler warned during a visit to the Turkish Joint Combined Force Command in Qatar that the risk of the regional war expanding remains present.
He called the announced ceasefire "fragile but valuable" and expressed hope it will be made permanent, as he addressed Turkish troops deployed to Qatar and held a separate meeting with Qatari Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanim.
Guler addressed the troops after completing inspections and reviews at the command.
"The risk of war spreading in our region still exists. However, fragile as it may be, we value the announced ceasefire and wish for it to become permanent, primarily for the sake of ensuring regional security and establishing economic stability," Guler stated.
He said permanent stability was vital not only for regional countries but for the future of global security as well.
"In this process, Türkiye, as it always has, continues to adopt an approach that prioritizes peace, reduces tensions and supports stability. The duties performed by all of our units here represent one of the strongest reflections of this strategic approach on the ground," he noted.
The Turkish defense minister also acknowledged that Qatar, due to its geographic position and strategic importance, had been directly affected by the conflict and subjected to various threats and missile attacks.
He praised Qatar's conduct throughout, stating, "Qatar's calm, determined and reasonable stance has made an important contribution to preserving regional stability. This approach is also very valuable for the security of the entire region."
He recalled the March 21 helicopter accident that killed Air Defense Major Sinan Tastekin, two Aselsan technicians and four members of Qatar's armed forces.
"This tragic incident shows that our military cooperation and partnership with Qatar has become a shared destiny," Guler noted.
Guler outlined the scope of Türkiye's military footprint in Qatar, which has included a Turkish Land Forces Element Command since 2015, the Turkish-Qatari Joint Combined Force Command since 2017, and Turkish Naval and Air Element Commands for the past two years, contributing to Qatar's security and supporting the defense capabilities of its naval and air forces.
"Our sole goal, with your contributions, is a stronger Türkiye in its region and in the world, a more respected, more effective and more deterrent Turkish Armed Forces," Guler concluded.
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